Is he going to dethrone Gilberto? He looks like he could possibly win the race. He said he even wants to win tomorrow which is when Gilberto has promised to throw down the gauntlet. I know its early to start talking about infighting, but the guy is such a strong climber he might be able to nullify any superior TT ability of the other gc contenders.

to the finish Gilberto will give him the stage. There's no doubt that Simoni is captain, you could see him celebrating Cunegos win as he coasted across in 17th. I'm sure Cunego will get some stage opps but he's there to work and learn. he's too young, has plenty of time and unless Simoni faulters will serve him well. Saeco is far too disciplined a team to allow such chaos.

pretty much backs my statement. fine teamwork, Bravo Saeco, Bravo Cunego, Bravo Simoni. what a way to use the kid to test the competitions legs. when they failed to respond, bang Simoni was off. Cunego did a fine job sitting on and pipping them at the end. Saeco could take a couple Jerseys home by the end.

Really nice team effort...it was almost as if they wanted Cunego to win stage 2 so he could be used as bait for Popovych in Stage 3...really great team riding.

Saeco seems to be quite in control. and the allegiance with Fassa for the Sprint stages is going to keep everything in check. these two teams have ambitions that are not in conflict with each other (great for both) so we'll see alot of them at the front of the races. no one will get a breakaway on any stage.

Today's stage just finished and they said that Simoni may have let a small gap and was not looking happy.

What if....Cunego puts a good time into Simoni in Saturday's TT? If Simoni wanted to let his form come along slower and peak for July, he might take it easier in the last week. I know he has said that his 3rd Giro was very important to him, but if a team mate was looking very good, he could try for a bigger win... It's just so tempting to hope for another contender in July...

But, I'd have to be that Cunego has the typical 'one bad day' where he is just off the pace and does not even have the legs to ride for Gibi.

Today's stage just finished and they said that Simoni may have let a small gap and was not looking happy.

What if....Cunego puts a good time into Simoni in Saturday's TT? If Simoni wanted to let his form come along slower and peak for July, he might take it easier in the last week. I know he has said that his 3rd Giro was very important to him, but if a team mate was looking very good, he could try for a bigger win... It's just so tempting to hope for another contender in July...

But, I'd have to be that Cunego has the typical 'one bad day' where he is just off the pace and does not even have the legs to ride for Gibi.


I though Simoni looked better than Cunego today on the steep hills that dotted the finale. He seemed to be riding well within himself, standing on the pedals, and was still splitting the small remnant of the field up on the climbs, including Garzelli who was dropped on each of the last two hills, but I think chased back on by the finish. Simoni did seem to be doing most of the work to reduce the gap to the lead group once the rest of the Saeco riders were spent, not sure if this was voluntary or becauce Cunego is in pink, or just because Cunego couldn't help. McGee looked good again, but I think he will have a time getting over Gonchar in the TT to retake the Pink.

riding tempo for Cunego (and the field). Damiano has a good finishing kick so the end wasn't a suprise. I think he'll lose time in the TT, while Simoni will hold his place. Am most impressed with McGee, hanging with the lead, that attempted attack. I think he's a new man. Good to see, maybe the new Aussie hope.

Am most impressed with McGee, hanging with the lead, that attempted attack. I think he's a new man. Good to see, maybe the new Aussie hope.

I, too, have been impressed with McGee. But, the coming mountain stages will be a true test for him. Last year, I saw the TdeF stage that climbed the Col de Portillon (I can't remember which Stage number it was -- it was the Stage that Simoni won). The leaders and then the main peloton crossed the summit. I then started walking down the mountain. Brad McGee was near the end of the very last group of riders -- he was a significant distance back from even the main peloton. He looked very stressed, much more so than most of the other riders.

I hope that McGee does well this year, both at the Giro and at the Tour. He seems like a nice guy and I was very impressed by the public stance he took against doping this Spring. But, he has to get some climbing legs.