But that's today, let's get back to Saturday . . .

Today's chrono is 52 kilometres, but Saturday's L'Équipe glossy magazine takes us back 30 years to a much shorter effort against the watch - the Olympic one kilometre championship in 'Moscou.'

The following car is prepped.

'Thoms: a new dimension' says the headline - German Lothar Thoms won in 1:2:95.

That wouldn't get top six, now.

'L'Heure de Vérite' says the banner across the top of the page in the newspaper - 'The Hour of Truth.'

The Pinarello is UCI - approved.

That's the thing about le Tour; Schleck may be the coming man in les montagnes, but he has to do the 'alone and unpaced' thing, survive the pavé and watch for splits on 'Crazy Cav' days.

Exploit your strengths, survive you weaknesses - but I have to confess that I was surprised by Schleck's ride. I had though that he'd drop two minutes to Contador, but not a bit of it.

The Spaniard's reactions at the finish were untypical of a man not known for displays of emotion - he was very relieved to have held Schleck off.

Following Geraint was a great experience.

Like Bert said, 'form isn't math' and during this Tour his wasn't the best - but he rode conservatively, kept his cool and if God spares us all, he's a three time winner, this apres midi, in Paris to join the likes of Lemond and Bobet.

We had a long day, up early and down to Bordeaux, we did a bit of that tourist stuff, mixed in with skeking the hi-tech TT bikes over at the start. That'll be up on PEZ in the next few days.

It's a lovely city, the suburbs may be the usual grotty sprawl but the old centre is gentile and beautiful.

During the course of our walk we bumped in to the race a few times - the early starters had the best conditions, for sure, calm and with a pleasant air temperature. As the afternoon progressed the intensity of the wind increased and the direction gradually swung round until it was howler of a head wind right down the finishing straight.

Moinard upped his effort to match Geraint's pace.

Following Geraint in the test was good fun (it's on PEZ) but compromised a little by his failure to shake off the French rider Moinard. The Cofidis man didn't 'hing the wheel' but used Geraint as a marker - the gaggle of cars rather kept us out of sight of our boy.

But like I said, it was fun.

Geraint's a cool guy, very unaffected by his fame and long term a better bet for Grand Tour success than his more famous team mate.

Despite the increasing winds, Wiggins and Geraint rode to great times.

Credit where it's due though, Wiggins - and Geraint, who was only seconds behind him - did excellent rides, given their field placings, catching the full blast of the wind.

After we'd had a few words with Geraint we took time to interview Dave Martin (not the one from The Bicycleworks) who is the man behind EUROPEDS, the bike tours company whose accommodation we were in for seven nights.

Bert rode a good, calculated and composed test.

On Friday and Saturday we stayed in a beautiful chateau north of Bordeaux - so it was the least we could do to big the man up with an interview.

We were at 600 metres to go to watch the big guns blast home - Contador did finish faster, you could see it, but Schleck had given his all in the early kilometres.

Geraint warms down after his effort.

Then it was time to fight through the 'civilian' traffic back to the digs and start on the words and pictures.

The pizza van was just about to close at 9:55 pm when the we pulled up, but the guy was sound, took pity and rattled two megas into the oven for us.

Paris here we come!

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The bunch?

Like some high speed linear motored Japanese train - whhoooooooossssshhhhh!

Those carbon rims slice the air.

The bunch speeds by.

We dashed back in to the chipper to watch the finale on the tele, respect to Sky, they were in the race - but Cav really is a cut above.

Ale jumped first but Cav was on him like a cat onto a mouse - the Manx cat was saying at the press conference that he was conserving energy in the sprint, conscious he has the TT on Saturday and want's the win in Paris on Sunday.

He said that he's not looking forward to the test; 'it's 50 kilometres on my own, I'm usually only on my own for 200 metres!'

Young Reporters!

It was time to break camp at our 'home' in the Printania Hotel in Argeles-Gazost - and say 'cheerio' to Ed (the Pole) Tarwinski, who had to go back to Zarragossa to uplift his caravan.

Dave, Ed, and Eddy - be a good name for a cartoon that. Almost.

The game plan today was to do 'mini-interviews' with who ever we could pick up at the stage start - you have to be flexible, if you have specific guys in mind you can waste a lot of time trying - and failing - to find them.

It worked out well, we got Scott McGrory, Matt White, Allan Peiper, Wilfried Peeters, Dimitri Konyshev and Paolo Barbiere; it's all on Pez.

Scott McGrory.

Matt White.

We also snapped a few riders, Basso looks ill, Dave Millar looks tired, Jez looks like Jez and Hushovd was having his last day in green.

Basso looks tired.

Dave Millar answers questions.

Jez Hunt.

The quickest way to the finish is via the race route - and that's what we did.

The crowds were huge, despite the fact that the area - known as Les Landes - is pan flat, sparsely populated and heavily wooded.

The desire to get a look at the bunch flying in to Bordeaux got the better of us and we stopped for frites and a Coke; that's where we skeked Oss and the express train in hot pursuit.

Daniel Oss took a flyer from the break.

Bordeaux looks beautiful, we were going to explore but by the time we got through the crush, found the press room and battled with the wi-fi to get our pics away, it was time to head for the digs.

It's a beautiful Saturday morning, we're heading south, back to Bordeaux to do the 'tourist thing' then follow a rider in the final time trial of the biggest race on the planet - if only there was something good playing on Radio Nostalgie...

Car art. (click for the full image)

However, not for one moment did it look like Alberto Contador was under pressure.

Andy talks tough.

I long ago stopped putting posters of my heroes on the wall (except Ezequiel Mosquera, of course) but I have huge respect for Alberto Contador - he's undoubtly the best Grand Tour rider of this generation and as one of a very select group of riders - including Merckx and Hinault - who have won the Giro, Tour and Vuelta is arguably one of the all time best.

The 'problem' is that he's small, reserved, doesn't really play the 'sound bite' game and rides for that 'dodgy Astana mob.'

Give me a Kazakh team any time, you know where you stand.

There are teams in the race with far more dubious managements than Astana, but they're smoother at 'spin' and playing the media game - not to mention reptilian.

Bert sits comfortably behind Schleck.

But back to Bert - I don't feel he gets the respect he deserves from the media and this year in particular he's been the 'bad guy' to 'good guy' Andy.

The wee Madrileno is a master of making just the right move at the right moment with minimal wasted energy - just like Anquetil and Indurain did before him.

Unless you are Merckx, it's about winning with as little effort as possible, not scattering your physical and nervous energy like confetti.

Hi love. Yes, he won the stage. No, Bert was right there.

I was reading this morning that Schleck asked Bert to come through, on the Tourmalet, yesterday - why the hell would he want to do that?

Schleck was attacking the man, then he wants a 'spell?' - a pro at his level shouldn't embarrass himself with a statement like that.

The media goes along with the 'poor Andy' stuff because he's 'such a nice guy' and any sign of Contador 'weakness' is seen as the 'beginning of the end' for the Spaniard, but if Bert does the business in the time trial, tomorrow then he'll be 'majestic' or some such superlative.

Schleck is capable of winning the Tour, but not if Alberto Contador continues to perform at his present level.

We're about to set off on foot up the hill.

The Tourmalet was hard work for us, we had a four K walk up, then a four K walk down - I'm not sure what was tougher, lugging my blubber up there or the pain in my toes as gravity tried to push them through the front of my shoes on the descent.

A great experience, though.

The trouble with being on the Tour is that the experiences come at you so thick and fast it's hard to savour them - there's always the next place to get to, more words, more pictures, more angles.

But sometimes, weeks later, a thought will come in to your head; 'that was really special.'

No doubt it'll be like that about the Tourmalet - it's such a small area that there physically can't be that many folk at the top - but we were there and watched the riders appear from the mist.

Oscar wends his own way up the climb.

Some were fighting hard to better their stage or GC position, some were wasted from their efforts in the break and some were simply surviving.

And those sprinters, who perhaps suffered the most yesterday, they have to get body and mind together to strut their stuff into Bordeaux, today - respect!

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'Been better, mate!' he fires back between hard draws on his fag - it's difficult for a man who wears his heart on his sleeve to 'spin.'

Inside, Michael Barry, who's an eloquent, polite, sound guy tells us that morale is good - he best get out and tell Shane that, then.

Michael Barry was our fourth gig of the day.

If we wanted to, we could do one piece and have a leisurely day - but that's not what it's about.

We're on the biggest race on the planet - you don't waste time.

First appointment of the day was at the Euskaltel bus - and a meeting with Sammy Sanchez's Orca.

We were bang on schedule until we got 'pulled' for speeding - Dave's French and 'little boy lost' act was worth a BAFTA and after our lecture we headed on our way - it's a 90 Euros on the spot fine if they push it.

Over at the Euskaltel hotel it's friendly chaos, no ropes or barriers or inscrutable faces - the team belongs to the people of Euskadi.

Kids, riders, old wifies, mechanics, DS's, bike riding Tour followers and journos mill around together - wonderful.

Tomas, the mechanic who shows us Sammy's Orca is an old chum from the Vuelta a few years ago.

There'll be a full piece on the Olympic champion's bike on PezCyclingNews, soon. We liked his 'B' bike better than the 'A' - we're not big gold hi-lites fans.

Next up was an interview with Liquigas' Great Dane, Brian Vandborg; he's a big strong boy with perfect English - including all the florid phrases.

Chatting to Brian.

Brian leading Johan a couple of days ago on the Tourmalet.

Andy Schleck was holding a press conference in the back garden of the hotel so it was pretty chaotic.

'Andy talks tough' say the headlines, but Contador wasn't giving any press conferences, he knows that he has to save every bit of nervous energy for today and Saturday.

Over at the Omega Pharma Lotto press conference there were quality nibbles and an interview with Matt Lloyd.

We've been fans of Matt for a long time.

Matt is about the size of Willie Carson but his personality is big - he's old school; no time for hype, brouhaha about chains coming off or stages that are too hard. We like that - 1970's pro attitude.

Our final interview was the Michael Barry one; as we walked into the Campanile restaurant, over in the corner a cluster of journos hung on every word that Mr. Brailsford said - we ducked that one.

Michael was cool, softly spoken, looks you straight in the eye and is easy to have a joke with - we like him.

Michael is a workhorse of a rider.

Meanwhile Edvald Boasson Hagen smiled patiently through an interview with Norwegian TV.

Eddy seems to be a patient, polite and quiet fellow off the bike.

In the evening it was 'Friends Reunited' time as Ed Tarwinski, ex of the Dundee Wheelers and Dunedin CC ambled in to our hotel.

And Scottish Cycling's new president Alasdair Maclennan and his lovely wife, Marion joined us for a drink later in the evening.

We wish him well with his plans for the rejuvenation of the sport in Scotland.

VeloResults hopes he'll be the man to end the national obsession with monster hills, remote moorland and race fans that need sheared every year.

Tourmalet tomorrow - wow!

Messing around with the 15 foot puppy.

Some rest day stats for you from 2009

• Spectators: 12 to 15 million.
• 70% male, 30% female.
• 85% French.
• 130 kilometres - average distance a spectator travels to watch the Tour.
• 6 hours - average time spent beside the road.
• 118 TV channels.
• 75 radio stations.
• 398 newspapers.
• 61 internet sites from 41 nations.
• 2,477 journalists in total.
• 186 countries show the Tour on TV.
• 60 countries show it live on TV.
• 155,000,000 page views on the internet.

... and that's why it's the biggest annual sporting event on the planet.

The gruppo was travelling at funereal speed, 30 minutes down when it passed us near the top of the Aubisque.

If Fab and Stuarty are on the front on a mountain pass, it's pianissimo.

Cav was surrounded by 'minders' near the back whilst Ale Jet was just off the back, but he looked OK, probably just back at the car.

Big Thor however, was with the maillot jaune group and scooped the points for tenth at Pau - respect.

Thor hung in over the high passes.

The paradox though, is that Thor's ability to pull of a move like that means he can't have the ultimate top end speed to see off Cav and Ale Jet.

We predict two more wins for Cav and the Maillot vert for Ale Jet.

There was obviously a GC truce, yesterday - endorsed by aforementioned chunky Norwegian's presence.

The heads take a day off.

It's really all down to the day after tomorrow's Rest Day for Schleck, if he can't distance Contador - which we don't think he can - then the Spaniard will beat him in the Bordeaux TT.

And it's not inconceivable that Schleck will lose second place - Big Denis Menchov built his 2009 Giro win on his power against the watch.

As far as stage wins go, we like (Viktor won't!) that there have been six French stage wins, it's good for the race and means the Tour gets full front pages in L'Équipe - always a good thing.

Fédrigo isn't a bad rider, pro since 2000, this is his third Tour stage (2006 & 2009), he's been French champion (2005) and won the Four Days of Dunkirk the same year; he's also won at Plouay in 2008 - not an easy race to win.

Fedrigo is building a good record in the Tour.

This has been a good year for him; he took the Criterium International, this year - another race Vik hates.

L'Équipe doesn't go much for Bert and Andy's 'réconciliation', giving it 1/10 and likening the two of them to kids.

It's the rest day tomorrow, and we'll be passing through Lourdes, en route Pau and a meeting with Orbea about their new TT bike; then an interview with Brian Vandborg (Denmark & Liquigas) then Matt Lloyd (Australia & Lotto) then Michael Barry (Canada & Sky) - busy boys.

A demain.

Gallery

Whatever happens, it's been a good Tour for Bbox, Charteau in polka dots for a good stretch and now Tommy takes a big one.

Going down to Pro Continental doesn't seem to have affected them one bit - and it's saved them a fortune.

Tommy heads for a fabulous win.

It was a tad mad up on the Port de Bales today but great to be there - Monday afternoon, high in the Pyrenees under a clear blue sky with the world's best cyclists just inches away.

There's no digital signal up there in the montagnes so we didn't really know what was going on until the riders were upon us.

Bert pushes on with Denis and Sammy.

From what we understand, Schleck's chain came off whilst Bert was having a dig.

Some say that this was unsporting but others that Bert was unaware of the incident.

Even if he was aware, this is where I get puzzled; Cancellara bullied everyone into waiting on the Spa stage and if it wasn't for that then it would be a very different GC; Andy should remember that, be thankful for it, keep his mouth shut and get on with the race.

Andy recovered from his mishap well, but lost time on the descent to Bert & Co.

It strikes me that explanations for race situations depend on who's doing the 'spinning' and needs the argument to suit them most.

When Lance's boys drove hard across that tidal causeway a few years back and there was an almighty crash behind, that was 'savvy' (or some such word) riding.

But when Contador pushes a move home, he's 'unsporting' - apart from anything else, with the current groupset technology a derailed chain is unforgivable. [It seems that Andy was in the wee ring and in a small sprocket - not the wisest of chain lines and tension to deploy when attacking full gas out the saddle, when his chain whipped and got caught in his crank arm  - Editor.]

It would seem that many believe that in bike racing in the current era, a truce has to be declared for every 'mechanical'.

To me, that's preposterous, punctures, crashes and equipment failing are part of the game - just the way the mop flops.

Which leads us to a team where every opportunity is grasped to minimise negative variables - Sky.

Their first man up the climb today was Lövkvist, but well down - and yet another bad day for Bradley with the rest of the team scattered all over the Pyrenees.

Brad avoids being run off the road.

Over the winter they should quietly drop the 'marginal gains' thing and look carefully at this season - learn from their mistakes and remember that guys like Chavanel, Riblon and Voeckler win because they want to the most.

Not because their team has the best bus or the slippiest TT bilkes.

OK, I'm calm now.

If you keep abreast of Pez you'll have read that Garmin soigneur (and VeloResults blogger) Toby Watson saved us one hell of a walk down the mountain, today.

Toby asks if we want a lift.

Many thanks, Toby - we'll try and get you that beer on the rest day!

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The last time I was there was with Martin, we sat, stunned in a late night pizza place - yellow jerseyed Rasmussen had just been sent home from le Tour by Rabobank.

I'm hoping for no scandals this time.

It's calm at the start.

Our digs are near Lourdes in Argeles-Gazost, a reciprocal deal with a bike tours company - EUROPEDS - we get digs, they get ads on PezCyclingNews.

This climb marks the highest point in the race so far.

We were up on the Port de Pailhères today, baking in the sun, we'd expected a sort out, instead we got a gallus ride from a Frenchman - always good for the race.

Today's stage winner and good track rider, Christophe Riblon.

Christophe Riblon has made it a good Tour for AG2R and guaranteed himself a ride for next year along with a wage rise.

At the top of the Pailhères the 'heads' were together and we'd thought that maybe the sort out would come on the final climb to Ax-3 Domaines.

But no, apart from Sanchez and Menchov taking a few seconds back on the final climb, it's status quo.

Bradley lost big today, four minutes, he was just off the back of the favourites group when we saw him, but he didn't have it.

Bradley admits last year's placing was 'a fluke'.

He's come clean about his lack of form in an interview that's on the Daily Telegraph site.

To us it was apparent from the prologue; he'll probably go better now that the play acting is finished.

A rider has to come in to le Tour at the absolute top of their form to have any chance of doing anything.

The competition among the riders on the French teams is especially fierce; every young rider dreams of le Tour.

Amaël Moinard is another French rider showing well on several days.

Long term, Geraint Thomas looks a much better prospect, still only 24, he's been a world and Olympic champion, world record holder, rode a solid Dauphine, won the British road race title and performed admirably in this Tour.

Provided he's not placed under the 'British Tour winner by 2015' pressure and left to mature, we predict even better things for this very down to earth young man.

Geraint and some other fella.

The weather was fabulous yesterday, it matched the scenery, not just the rugged beauty of the mountains; the quiet flatlands running in to the foothills had us saying a lot; 'it would be really nice to ride these roads on the bike.'

I wasn't saying that on Pailhères, though; a brute of a climb, continually changing direction and gradient and impossible to find a rhythm on.

The crowds in the Pyrenees are never as big as in the Alps - that's simple geography, the Alps are in the middle of Europe whilst the Pyrenees are on the fringe of the continent and sparsely populated.

But that's not say that fans are scarce, far from it - the noise and excitement at the top of the Pailhères made it a very special place to be.

Getting the paper ready to stuff up the jersey.

Our digs are nice, by the time we'd edited and sent our pics it was past dinner time but the lady of the house made us a salad and the vin rouge was just braw.

Port de Balès tomorrow, 19.3 K @ 6.1% - ouch!

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Born 16:09:1973 in Petropavlosk, he was a stagiere with Casino in 1997; he won the Dunkirk Four Day in his first full season and finished that year with six wins - an impressive debut.

He left Casino at the end of '99 with another seven wins under his belt to go to Telekom where he stayed until 2005 after notching wins that year in Liege-Bastogne-Liege and two Tour stages. He went south in 2006 to Liberty Seguros and a win in the Vuelta.

Vino takes a comeback win at the Tour.

After the Liberty Seguros drugs fiasco he was the main mover-and-shaker in Astana's formation but then had his own drugs debacle.

He wangled a one year suspension because 'he was finished with the sport' - but looked remarkably deeply involved with professional cycling, yesterday afternoon.

When we left Rodez to drive the stage yesterday, we thought that it was indeed a day for the breakaway as the road wiggled along densely wooded river valleys and rose and fell across the ridges.

The cops team pursuit past us at speed.

Later in the stage however, the roads flattened and straightened but we were amazed to see Lampre and Columbia on the front with 125 K still to go when we caught a glimpse of a TV in a café.

Catching up with the race from the café.

A few years ago the three man break would probably have stuck, but budgets are so big and sponsors so desperate for wins that the sprinter teams will work their men into the tar for the chance of a win.

Norse fans enter the fun.

The Cervelo, Columbia and Lampre guys will be first in the gruppetto, today - the looks on their faces yesterday said it all.

Stuey leads the 'bus - some very tired bodies in there.

Vino spoiled the party though, dropping like a brick off that hill.

When Dave and I drove down it we identified that it could favour a late charge by a madman - and so it proved.

Cav showed that he's easily the fastest, Renshaw lead out or not.

He's doing the right thing, sprinting for the second place points - Petacchi might not make it through the Pyrenees and Hushovd could puncture in the last K at Bordeaux.

'If you're not in it, you can't win it.'

Lance was having another lazy day, joking and laughing on the run in, well down on the desperate stuff.

Armstrong is putting a very brave face on at the moment.

He's saving it for one last 'burst on the banjo' - (copyright David Duffield) Dave reckons the Tourmalet top finish.

Whilst I remember; If you read our stuff on PEZ then you'll have read about the guy we met at our first night digs in Mende who asked if a ten minute time penalty means you have to leave ten minutes after everyone else, the next day.

His other classic was that he feels 'cheated' because they don't race all of the last stage; there should be none of that champagne drinking nonsense - they should be made to race the whole stage.

I'll need to ask one of the boys in the Pyreneean gruppetto about that - 'there's a boy we've met thinks you're not racing enough!'

It takes all sorts, we suppose.

It's a glorious Sunday morning, we're headed from Saturday night's base in Toulouse to the stage start at Revel.

No schmoozing today though, we're headed for the montagnes, the brutal HC Port de Pailhères, 15 kilometres at 7.9% with one of the kilometre sections averaging 10.5%.

We're spending the whole day up there, spectating from the caravan 'til the last man on the road.

A demain!

Gallery

And we were there to see it, a privilege.

L'Équipe today says 'Fin de la Trêve' - that's 'end of the truce, (or respite)'. That's how it looked to us, Contador letting Schleck know that he's just fine.

Bert had his 'pedalling back from the paper shop' look on his face - but many riders didn't.

Bert's back.

We were standing at the top of the savage climb out of Mende up to the finish at the airport - that's 3 K @ 10% grade.

Many of the riders chose to ride off the hill rather than wait and go down in a team car and pedalled past 'against' the race at low speed; the looks on their faces said it all - wasted.

Gillets for Bernie and Tony.

And yes, that means we're here - at last, it's been a long wait; trying to catch the stages on Eurosport, scanning the Guardian every day, logging on to the 'net and making the daily - but often fruitless - trek up to the International Newsagent on Edinburgh's Royal Mile in search of a two day old L'Équipe.

Not now though, there's creds round our neck and on the car windscreen and a current copy of L'Équipe is never more that a stroll to the newsagents away.

Ah, that's better...

Getting here was a bit of a test of human endurance; taxis, trains, cars, planes and a distinct lack of sleep - but what the hell?

We're here now and with a good night's sleep in Millau under our belt and fortified by a good breakfast of rough baguettes, croissants, cheese, jam and coffee we're 'good to go.'

Millau sits in the shadow of Norman Foster's amazing Millau viaduct - pictures of that tomorrow, folks.

But back to the race - Contador looked excellent, Schleck looked panicky - he's burned up his team but there's a transition and four Pyreneean killer stages to go.

Andy doesn't want to lose time to Bert.

Pete Jacques - who's close to Stuey O'Grady - tells us that the Australian is exhausted from the work load that's been imposed in defending the maillot jaune - for Schleck and twice for Cancellara.

Stuey has been working hard for the team.

Talking of Fab, he looked done yesterday - running on empty.

That's the thing about Grand Tour time trials, it's not just about how good an unpaced rider you are, it's down to how fresh you are.

The chrono speciallists like Cancellara and Martin are tired with all that domestique work; don't be surprised if Contador wins that TT at Bordeaux.

DZ acts the goat.

The Sky boys all looked tired, albeit Brad wasn't too far off the pace - and, as Dave said, 'he's hurting!'

The SKY boys and Dan Lloyd have a laugh, now that the stage is over.

Today's stage is another transition stage from Rodez to Revel on tough, lumpy little roads - the riders won't be looking forward to it; but we are!

Gallery

'You're baggage is overweight sir,' abandon my shorts, T-shirts, carry my sweat shirt and jacket - still over, even though I can tell the bag weighs nothing like the 13 kilos they say it does.

Eventually, they relent and I'm through, I come through security looking like Harold Steptoe just finished his round.

"I'll never fly Ryanair again!" - well, not until the Tour, anyway.

It's always grim to leave a Grand Tour 'hanging' but that's what we had to do, today.

Stage 12 is a sprinters' stage from Citta San Angelo to Porto Recanati but we have a plane to catch at 16:20 so we can't do too much today.

Yesterday was an epic, it would be good to poll the riders and team officials and get their opinions, so that's what we decide to do.

Try the sign on first.

Oops, someone's going to get a rollocking later. The cops make Martin delete the pics, but this one got away. (click for the full image)

The Giro girls are doing a dance routine, thick black hair, warm smiles, brown skin, micro skirts - ah, yes, interviews; 'come on son, we best go and find some riders.'

For once, the buses were parked on a road with some room to move around. (click for the full image)

Down at the bus park -Columbia, our big amigo, Adam Hansen pulled out yesterday.

But Aldis, the Latvian soigneur, whom I know from the sixes is happy to see us.

Aldis calls us typical Scots; "you say we'll have a drink soon, then you tell me you're going home today!"

I leave Martin chatting to him whilst I pounce on Matt Goss - like all of the Aussies, he's cool, whatever happens now, he's had a great Giro, with that stage win.

Matt is rightly chuffed with his Giro so far.

Say 'ciao, ciao' to Aldis, off on the hunt for more victims.

We like the AG2R Kuotas - workmanlike, real pro bikes.

The Saxo mechanics tell us the had the pink tape and Zipp stickers ready for Richie, just in case. (click for the full image)

Paolo Barbieri the Liquigas press guy is next, he's cool and has the facial hair to back that claim up.

Paolo's become a pal on this Giro, nice guy.

Liquigas are unapologetic about not helping Vino; 'when Nibali crashes, they attack - they declare war!'

Back down past the Sky bus, it's all a bit 'James Bond villainish' for me, but utterly immaculate.

David Brailsford will be in that streamlined camper van; 'and once we've won the Tour, we go for a seat on the security council of the UN, Mr. Sutton.'

'Bonzer, Boss, what's the beer like there?'

'Call me Sir David!'

Savio, dapper DS of Diquigiovanni is next (but don't tell Dan Fleeman - if you see me, ask!)

Gianni is telling us he called three guys out the break yesterday.

Like Paolo, he puts things into the perspective of honour and obligations - rare words when talking about sport, these days.

Into the village, Adriano Baffi, dare devil sprinter and six day rider, he bemoans that it's not like the 'old days' - we understand.

A great rider in his day, Adriano always has a good perspective on things.

A new chum, Iñigo the press guy from Caisse D'Epargne, nearby, Neil Stephens tells someone about a Ruta del Sol stage win.

Iñigo explains to us the Caisse team's view of yesterday's events.

Yesterday was a good one for the Spanish bank with Arroyo catapulted up the GC.

Erik Dekker at Rabobank gives us plenty of time, his punchline is that Vino wanted to give the jersey away so as not to have to defend it - but maybe not by so much!

You learn a lot from speaking to the DS's - like Erik, each has their own unique take on things.

Marc Sergeant was a cool rider, he's a cool DS, again he has plenty of time for the boys and is relaxed - a stage win and the green jersey on one of your riders' backs is very therapeutic.

Marc always has time for a chat with VeloResults.

Julian Dean, a bit less nervous than the last time we spoke to him - he's never seen anything like yesterday and today just might be Tyler's hat-trick.

Julian was as chuffed with his own third the other day as he was with Tyler's win.

Ted King, or 'King Edward' as his team mates rib him, is cool, tanned, veins in his legs doing the road map thing.

Martin's Yankees hat has been a running joke with Ted for the last week.

He's a big Boston Red Sox fan - apparently a pro ball player has to perform in 162 games per season, like Martin said to him; 'almost as hard as being a pro cyclist.'

'Almost!' ripostes Ted.

Big Vlad Karpets is super cool, Martin throws him a few questions in Spanish and the Russian is happy to talk; 'no, it wasn't complicated, there was no control' he says of yesterday.

Green jersey, Matt Lloyd is tiny and a typical friendly Aussie; 'in ten days it'll be all over and we'll be thinking about the next race.'

He's under no illusions about what's going to go down in the mountains in the last week, but is enjoying his spell in green.

Matt reckons more riders will come out of this Giro in the bucket, than flying.

Finally we snatch a few words with Garmin mechanic, Kris Whitington.

Kris explains how the teams help each other on days like yesterday, handing out dry clothing to other team's riders, and looking after each other.

The whistles blow, the team cars fire up, it's roll out time - and the autostrada to Rimini for us.

Whether being presented to the crowd at sign-on, winning stages, or simply hanging around at the start, Pippo is by far the coolest dude. (click for the full image)

Did I mention what that shower at Ryanair did to me?

The lass that introduces the riders onto the signing on stage, and keeps the crowd enthralled.

We did get some pics of the lovelies that accompany the race - I'm not sure what they do, but who cares?

The podium girls were queuing up to get their picture taken with Martin.

Last night was a little bit of a culinary disaster; we had our hearts set on pasta but ended up with pizza - again.

Martin asked our hostess if she could recommend a good restaurant.

'You like fish?' she asked, 'not so much' replied Martin.

'Ah!' she continued and gave him a map and directions.

We got lost - of course - and reached the restaurant after a death march, around 11:00 pm.

'Still, the pasta will be good,' we told ourselves; there was octopus, squid, salmon, trout, bass - in fact, the contents of the Adriatic, but no pasta.

'Ehm... pizza Napoli, per favore,' - but the red wine was inexpensive and fruity.

Charlie Wegelius at the sign on this morning.

And to use that old journalistic device - 'fast forward' to 20:00 Wednesday.

Spotted whilst having a coffee, this example of the cart is very cool.

Today was another of those moments where we can say; 'I was there!'

A huge gulley running into the valley.

We were doing the 'drive the stage thing' when I received a text from Dan Fleeman, who was monitoring the Cycling News live report of the stage - 'what about this 50 man break, then ?'

We knew nothing of it; there are radio reports of the finales but they're interspersed with music and endless chatter.

Already there are stories flying around about how such a thing could have happened - the organizers wanted Vino out of pink and set it up, is one.

But more likely is the one that the 'Capi' - top men - agreed a truce and were caught out.

Vino is saying that the others placed the onus on him and he called their bluff.

Whatever the truth it was a sensational situation - I can't remember anything like it.

Well, there was Floyd, but . . .

We settled down on the last climb to watch - we felt it was our duty to give our readers a snap shot of what it was like.

The only person on this section of the climb with us, was a moto cop who was 'burstin'.

There's a lot up there on Pez, but I have to say that it all felt very strange.

There were few fans on the mountain - the stretch of tar we chose we had to ourselves and it was easy to get parked.

The rain was brutal, cold, stinging and so heavy for the first riders that it played havoc with our auto focus.

Steve Cummings did a mountain of work in the break, to lift Wiggins up as high on GC as possible.

The lead group was totally committed, working hard, especially Caisse - they must fancy their chances with Arroyo.

They'll be thinking that the youngsters like Porte and Agnoli will crack when it goes into the really big mountains, next week.

But Sastre is the big winner - the longer, hotter and harder it is, the better he likes it and whilst his deficit isn't small, it's not on Vino or Cuddles.

The gap between the leaders and the Vino group was huge - we made it 14 minutes.

Charlie again, this time after 145 wet and hard miles, with 25 still to go.

Apart from a few stragglers the road was quiet - there was just us, the rain, the thunder and that single song bird I mentioned on Pez.

Rubens Bertogliati - with Scarponi and Basso tucked in - lead the Vino group.

They all seemed to be accepting their fate and again it was all so quiet.

In the gruppos it was the same, absolutely no chat and no acknowledgment from the guys we know when we gave them a shout.

As soon as the race was past we high tailed it off the mountain and headed straight to our digs - we needed dry clothes and wi-fi.

As we got closer to the sea, the weather got better and by the time we arrived at our digs, here in Città Sant'Angelo it was a different world, it didn't look as if had rained at all.

It was our Pez colleague, Gordan Cameron who gave us the race result, by email - the radio station's live reports dried up into half baked chat and bad music.

An epic day and such a pity that after we see the stage start today, we head home.

But never fear, we'll be keeping coverage of the 2010 Giro going to the end.

And did we get pasta, last night ? - damn right.

Gnocchi cooked in the jug - beautiful.

Ah well, best wake Martin and tell him about what Floyd has been saying.

A domani.

Until, that is, you stick them behind the wheel of a car - any car will do, doesn't have to be an Audi or a Jag, a clapped out Fiat is fine for acting like a juvenile, aggressive, ignorant, petulant twat.

Stop at the lights and if you haven't pulled a wheely within 2/1000 second of the lights going green, the guy behind will have an epi.

Trying to turn left and there's traffic holding you back? no prob - use the other side of the road.

Stopping distance? Do me a favour - proper drivers run less than one metre from the car in front, irrespective of speed.

It's so bad that it leaves you speechless; we were debating if they have a driving test here - maybe they teach you to drive like a moron?

Puglia was what we expected, dry, dusty, a little run down and pan flat on the coastal plain.

We chatted to Rubens Bertogliati before the start.

We didn't know there were so many olive trees in the world until we came here - as far as the eye can see.

The Worlds were in Ostuni in 1976, that's south of Bari the region's main town, not far from Bitonto where the stage finished, today.

My amigo Kris reminded me of that and that the track Worlds were on the 250 metre track at Bari.

The GB ladies team trained for it at Meadowbank Velodrome and stayed with Kris's mum - to save money.

David Brailsford would shake his head.

And wag his finger.

Maertens won, but a significant ride that day was by Mike Neel, a former hippie out of the San Francisco Bay area.

Neel took a top ten placing in one of the finest fields ever assembled for a pro Worlds - suddenly, those US pros weren't a joke any more.

If you dig deep into the Pez archive, there's an interview I did with Mike - it was maybe my first piece for the site?

So many olives.

The finalé in Bitonto was a real sprinters' gift - long, wide, fast straights.

Not the type of roads to favour a break.

There was no way that Charly Wegelius and his two partners in crime were going to stay away.

Charlie tried his best today, a great effort.

The finish was hectic, it looked like Tyler was too far back but he's at a different level this year and was mightily impressive in victory.

Julian Dean did a fearless 'pilot fish' job for his boss and still took third.

Big hugs for Julian.

It was great to sit in a bar with a beer and watch the race finish - on Terminillo, Dave had to keep us right on who won and Pete had to do the same at Cava di Tirreni.

I'm actually writing this on Wednesday morning, usually I write a good chunk of the VeloResults piece at night, before we go to bed, then get up early and finish it before Martin gets up.

Then he fires it up, before we bolt.

However, we didn't get to bed until gone midnight last night and this morning we had to be up pronto for an early stage start.

The stage times are set to suit TV and a tea time finish - the longer the stage, the earlier the start.

Today's is a monster, 262 kilometres up the spine of the boot of Italy from Lucera - where we're drag racing to, now - and L'Aquila, the town which was badly hit by an earthquake, last year.

Today is a seven hours in the saddle job - you have to respect these professionals.

Nearly there, before I sign off, let's have a quick look at the Gazzetta, together.

Tyler gets a postage stamp sized picture on the front page but does get a 9 out of 10 for his win - high praise indeed.

English speaking riders are winning stages - TTT apart, Italians aren't. (click for the full image)

"Do you speak GIRO?" asks a headline - reference to the fact that six stage have gone the way of Anglos - Wiggins, Farrar (2), Lloyd, Evans, Goss.

On the stage route, now - best get to work.

'Bocca lupo' ?

'In the mouth of the wolf' - like 'break a leg' to an actor.

ciao, ciao.

I was saying to Martin that I'm a bit worried, I've been wakening up feeling great - always a bad sign.

The trouble with my usual Giro partner in crime, Dave being back in Scotia and suffering from Giro withdrawal symptoms (he's coming to le Tour, though) is that everything we write and photograph is subject to close scrutiny.

Breakfast today was pears, bananas, strawberries, and cherries. Half a hundred-weight, three euros!

This morning, he's making the point that it's wrong to compare le Tour with the Giro - they are two different beasts, each with their own characteristics and quirks.

A fair point Dave, but I was actually responding to those who write in forums and the like saying that; 'the Giro is better than the Tour' probably without having been to either.

He also makes the point that we shouldn't rattle on about long, hard stages - that's what a Grand Tour is all about.

Whilst Viktor's view is that the Grand Tours are too long; the first and last weeks attract a lot of attention but nobody is really interested in the middle week and they should be cut back to two weeks.

Answers on a postcard, please.

Vino is brought forward to sign the display sign on sheet, having just signed the real paper one.

It was a hectic one, today, but maybe we tried to do too much ?

It was a sprinter's stage from Frosinone to Cava de 'Tirreni, today and driving the stage didn't seem a good option - long flat urban roads.

Vino and some balloons.

We decided to do a "glam start/wasted finish" piece plus a Michael Mørkøv interview at the start and an interview with Liquigas PR man Paolo Barbiere at the finish in the press room at Cava de Tirreni.

Richie Porte is riding a superb race, and says howdo as he fights the scrum of riders at the sign on stage.

The trouble was that we lost a lot of time on the way to the start due to the grim sign posting that they have in Italy.

The glam start went fine but we didn't quite conclude the Michael interview and agreed to ring him later to answer the last few questions.

Damiano Cungeo signs for fans on his way to sign on.

Two minutes after the riders leave in glorious sunshine, the rain pelted down. For us, it was coffee time.

Off to the finish along the motorway, beneath imposing Monte Cassino.

The Paolo Barbiere interview also went well but he had to dash before we concluded, too - his masseur needed to see him?

Ed and Paolo chat in the quiet press room. (click for the full image)

We struck out to photograph wasted riders, stressed soigneurs, resigned to their fate mechanics and the general 'Napoleon's retreat from Moscow' that is the aftermath of a stage.

There were a lot of tired lads today, after the five k's of climbing to the finish. Here's wee Robbie fighting bursitis in his knee too.

However - a vast crowd, teeming rain, a sea of umbrellas, narrow streets and a bum steer on the team bus park location contrived to deny us the opportunity to do an 'after' piece.

Three pieces - no 'punch lines' but bit by bit we pulled the jigsaw together.

We decided to make it a 'start' piece, only; we got hold of Michael by phone as he lay on the massage table - 'you must speak proper English Ed or I can't understand you!' and Paolo rang to make his last couple of points about the UCI's handling of the Pellizotti affair.

A glimpse of the finish straight from a fire escape outside the press room.

With Martin battling dire signage and world champion standard tail-gaters, we found our digs down in Salerno - the same place as Dave and I were in last year - and got to work.

Saul, the Liquigas mechanic lets us play with Nibali's Cannondale.

We had nice shots from the start, Martin edited those whilst I amended the copy, then I got the Mørkøv interview written up - it was nearly 11:00 pm before we finished.

Saul and and a soaked Martin have a blether.

The Paolo Barbiere piece will have to wait until today.

As for the race itself, we skipped most of the parcours but did drive the last 10 K.

The last five in particular were hard, dragging ever upwards on bad surfaces - the only saving grace was that they were straight.

The tough finale meant that there were GC riders in the mix at the line - Evans and Vino - as well as classy all rounders like Pippo and the pure sprinters had a lot of their venom drawn on that dragging, nasty tarmac - Tyler Farrar was on his knees by the line and big Greipel blew on the run in, that's why Columbia adopted 'Plan Goss.'

To perfection as it transpired - Martin grabbed a great shot of the Columbia train shaking hands as they rode the finish straight, clued in by their ear pieces that 'Gossy' had won.

It's out of focus, but you get the gist. Adam Hansen and Marcus Sieberg are chuffed that their hard work paid off.

The shot was out of focus, though - not surprising given that there were eejits exploding fire crackers beside us.

A long day, we'll know if it was a good one or not when we see how the pieces look on Pez.

The guy who sets the pieces up at Pez - Jered Gruber - is like Martin in that they can make silk purses from sow's lugs.

Sometimes, I look at pieces and think, 'did I do that? it's not bad!' but a lot of it is their skill at laying the piece out.

07:19 in Salerno on Tuesday, I'm sitting out on the veranda as the big ferry port comes to life.

Martin is still knocking up those well deserved 'zeeees.'

Today is a sprinters' stage, with the finish way over on the other side of Italia - Bitonto. No relation to the Lone Ranger's neebz, apparently.

Where we are in Salerno is the furthest south I've been in Italy, so I'm looking forward to venturing to the heel of the Italian boot and the 'olive capital of italy' - so famous that there's no mention of it in the rough guide.

And some sunshine would be nice - it's been the wettest Giro I've witnessed.

Anyway, Puglia calls; tell you about it tomorrow - and I've not bought my Gazzetta, yet.

Bocca lupo! - and I'll tell you what that means tomorrow, too.

Better, how?

The scenery in Italy can be stunning, sure - but like yesterday, it can be ghastly, too.

The Tour is exactly the same, for every Riviera, there's a retail park.

As for the fan base, it's a no contest; in the north of Italy the fans are legion and fanatical but the further south you go, the less enthusiastic they are.

Today the numbers of roadside fans was sparse - and that includes the first mountain top finish of the race.

Ed interviewes Dan Lloyd, who's very focused on his role, looking after Sastre.

If the strade bianche were in Lombardy, we'd still be trying to get off the hill.

And as for the field - no Lance, Alberto, Schlecks, Cav, Boonen or Cancellara.

Brent Bookwalter had a blether with us before today's start, apologising for not returning our call after the first stage! That's ok mate.

Organisation-wise it's scary driving a stage route here in advance of the race, unless you have the official cars breathing down your neck.

On race route yesterday we had to watch very carefully for 'civilians' coming against race route and across race route at traffic lights.

On the Tour, the roads are secured six hours before the start; there is just zero chance of the wrong vehicle being on the course.

All that said, it's more sympatico on the Giro, there's much less officialdom, the folk are great, the food is good and it's a great buzz.

But 'le Tour is le Tour!'

Yesterday was a great experience; personally I don't think dirt roads belong in a Grand Tour, for sure have the Eroika, Rutland, GP Herning, Paris-Roubaix and Tro Bro Leon but don't have 'gimmicks' in a stage race.

We'll run a competition soon, with riders' faces that you have to put names to.

But as Martin has just said to me; 'none of the riders are saying much about the dirt roads - it's just like, "well, it's part of the race!"

Maybe I'm being too conservative?

The first bunch appears out of the gloom.

Today it was good not to be rained on and the rolling country with the hill top towns was beautiful.

As I said earlier though, the number of fans roadside was disappointing.

Drive through virtually any town that's on a Tour de France route and it'll be packed to the rafters - there would have been no problem picking a spot in any of the stage route towns, today.

You get the idea, mist, cold, few folk watching, riders battering themselves up a monster climb.

The finish hill was very poorly supported, there was no atmosphere to speak of standing where we were at 1900 to go.

It was good to hear that Steve Cummings and Chris Froome were in the break - Vik would say otherwise, but I like and respect both men.

Looks to us like Steve rode in a skinsuit... he was one of the first attackers today.

I think that Steve has the potential to be a very good rider, but perhaps plays the super domestique role best.

Alberto Contador spoke very highly of him at Discovery.

Saxo Bank will be delighted with their win, today - their Giro is a success, whatever else happens.

Wiggins must be ruing those splits and crashes in Holland, he was with the 'heads' on Terminillo today, albeit he looked right on the limit and in this Giro, the climbing hasn't even started.

Millar collapsed, a shame; the maglia rosa was his for the taking at the TTT but the Garmin team didn't ride like the unit that so nearly won both the Giro and Tour 'cronsquadras' in 2009.

And now, it's Monday.

There comes a point where you just have to sleep; Rieti wasn't far off the bottom of the climb and provided us with good, clean digs and not a bad wee restaurant.

When I awoke at 07:00 I could see the newsagent across the square, up, out, down the stair, across the Piazza Cesare Battiati, grab the door handle - locked!

It was like a bad dream, I could see the Gazzettas, pink, inviting but couldn't get to them - it was horrible!

I've got one now, though.

Cycling merits not one front page mention today; it's all about Inter Milan and Josè Mourinho winning the league - that takes up pages one to 18.

Today's Gazzetta, it's football today.

It's page 42 before we get our fix; it's hard to imagine what you have to do to get 8 out of 10 from the Gazzetta.

Chris Sorensen rides in a day long break, jumps them on the race's first mountain top finish and tortures himself to victory - that's an 8.

Martin reckons he should have moon-walked across the line to boost that to a 9.

Evans looks the winner to us - team or no team - whilst Sastre is now 8'10" back on Vinokourov - who we reckon will have at least one bad day in the last week - whilst Evans sits at 1'12".

It's going to be very difficult to put seven minutes into Cuddles for Carlos, no? (that's how Carlos ends every sentence - 'no?')

Columbia tester Pinotti surprises at 5th and so does young Aussie, Porte in 6th.

But like we say, early days.

Martin wants to get this copy posted, and we have a long drive to Frosinone and the start of stage 9, so we gotta go.

A domani!

The Giro and the Tour are so different; creds at the Tour is a big, officious production but at the Giro, it's so much more laid back - and the guy on the PC likes us, so we get free Giro laptop cases.

We're expected, press cards in order, but it's still good to get the creds around you're neck - until then, access to anyone and anything is difficult.

Edz Credz.

It was a red letter day, today; we met Richard Pestes - your actual Pez - for the first time, along with the wife and children.

All too brief, but never mind - he's smaller than I imagined and wirier, a fit looking dude.

Ed and Martin meet The Pez! (click for the full image)

It's a fact of modern life that you can build up quite close relationships by digital means, without ever meeting the other person.

'Tutto Ill rosa della vita.' - the line below the masthead in the Gazzetta dello Sport - 'Everything in life is pink' that's not strictly true today, there's a lot of grey about as we traverse flat urban landscape for kilometre after kilometre.

Today is all about the strade bianche, the 'white roads.'

The gravel starts at 18.9 kilometres to go and lasts 13.9 K - of which 12.6 K is the Poggio Civitella, a climb with an average grade of 3.7% but rearing to 15 and 16% in parts and a total elevation of 470 metres, around 1,450 feet.

We bump into Paolo Bettini on the race route, so stop and say hi, so Ed can reminisce about Paolo's first six day in Grenoble a few years ago.

Front tubs of 25mm and rear rubber of 24mm at eight bar with gears of 39 x 21 or 23 will be the order of the day.

'Super Mario' Cipollini has ridden the climb for the Gazzetta and just in case we've forgotten, it reminds us that he holds the record number of stage wins for the Giro - 42.

Cipo's faves?

Vino, Evans and Pippo - we'll see.

I wrote all of that in the car, en route the strada bianche - to be honest it was one boring 200 kilometres from the start to the final climb.

We contrived to miss the short first section of dirt road but got back on track for the final climb.

The Strada Bianchi road surface and gradient is horrendous.

We were unprepared for the strade bianche, we were thinking, 'farm track' - but it's more like forestry track, twisting up through the trees on to the ridge, then running along the hill tops before reverting to tar and dropping into Montalcino.

Vino and Evans lead the charge, Garzelli, Cunego and a surprising Marco Pinotti were all there, too.

Vino and Evans out in front. (click for the full image)

Martin and I both missed David Millar who boosted himself to a solid third, today.

Nibali knows he's having his last day in pink, for this year at least. (click for the full image)

Wiggins too, was well to the fore but those eight minutes he dropped back in Holland are gone forever.

Is it a lottery?

You could say that, but like Billy Paul said; "Only the Strong Survive."

Vino is riding very well this season with a Doyenne win and Evans is world champion - 'nuff said, really.

Pippo in the start village, heading for signing on. Looks great, doesn't he? (click for the full image)

Towards the end of the stage, Pippo doesn't look quite so cool. (click for the full image)

I pontificated about that on Pez; but it's bizarre that in a world where we're obsessed with progress and bikes are made ever lighter and hi-tech, the races that capture the imagination involve parcours where the main factors are decent tyres, a good position and brute strength.

It was the usual long haul off the hill, even though we tucked in behind the convoy.

Passing through the finish we spotted the Columbia team getting a rough wash down with bottles of mineral water before they boarded the bus - for all that carbon and sports science, sometimes it's just like the old days.

It's not exactly glamorous.

Mountain top finish the morn, ciao, ciao.

Viareggio on the west coast of Italy, 06:30 Saturday May 15 and VeloResults is on the Giro - well, not quite, we have our credentials to collect from the Gazzetta camper van, this morning at the stage start in Carrara.

The trip down wasn't too bad, Edinburgh to Luton, then Luton to Pisa - there was an hour's delay at Luton, but we were on Easyjet, so no one gets too stressed.

Albeit there was a nasty moment at the security check in Luton - "the transparent plastic bag you have your toiletries in is too big, sir' said the official.

Initially, we laughed, the boy has a sense of humour we thought, but not a bit of it, he was deadly serious.

Eventually I dragged Martin away; 'he's stressed, been up since 04:30,' I explained to our new chum.

We figure he's unmarried, lives with his mum and dad and has a Hornby train set in the loft - and the wee locos have the optional 'steam puffing' feature.

At Pisa we decided to have a quick look to make sure the tower was still there - photo opportunity taken, it was time to get ourselves to where we are now.

We're in Pisa, so we need to go see if we can help sort things out...

... but we weren't able to make much difference.

"Viareggio has never been anything other than what it is - a purpose built seaside resort,' says the Rough Guide; for all that, it's clean, friendly and an easy place to get a good pizza at a sane price.

But I have to watch the 'holiday postcard' stuff, I'm on a warning from Viktor and Willie Barr reckons I spewed out more ash than the Icelandic volcano, from Trinidad - but he didn't call it ash.

Today isn't a day to win the Giro, but it's certainly one where you can lose it.

It's a long stage with the last climb on the white gravel of the strade bianche.

All the Heads will be well aware of this and fighting to be at the front when tarmac gives way to dust.

Only it might not be dust, I was out for an early stroll to find coffee and a Gazzetta - unsuccessful on both counts - and it's cool and drizling, outside.

It could be a really decisive stage in those conditions.

Nibali has been around a long time and promising greatness, all the while.

A medal in the junior worlds TT way back in 2002 at Zolder; GP Plouay in '06; five wins in '07 including the Giro di Toscana; the Giro del Trentino in '08; the GP Camaiore and a strong Tour with 7th on GC in '09.

Nibali has been promising for quite a while.

He hit the ground running for 2010 with a win in the San Luis stage race in Argentina and despite his coming to the Giro at short notice to replace Pellizotti - out with 'vitamin' problems - 'The Shark' as they call him, is obviously in great shape.

Can he win, who can beat him?

Sitting happily in second place, the pressure on his young team mate, is Ivan Basso.

Last year was promising, after two years out - will this be the year that he goes back to riding cols with his mouth shut, looking like he's on the way to the paper shop, again?

Basso is having a better year this year.

Those days are gone for ever; but there's no doubting that he's in a good situation and Liquigas are well aware that they shouldn't burn out that strong team of theirs before that brutal last week.

Sastre has to be a favourite when it's long, hot, hilly and tough; that 2:13 he's down at the moment shouldn't be too much of a worry in the third week when the peaks rear and the physical and mental exertions of three weeks of racing begin to tell on those not as tough as the man from Avilla.

Last year he won two hard, hard stages in this race whilst using it as a 'tune up' for an ultimately fruitless Tour campaign.

Word is that this year he's decided that the Tour will be a death race - with Armstrong, Contador, the Schlecks - and is putting all his eggs in the Giro basket.

Karpets, at 39 seconds, looks strong, maybe he's back to the form of 2007 where he won the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon, Volta a Alentejo, Vuelta a la Rioja, Volta a Catalunya and Tour de Suisse?

Vlad to VR; 'mullets ARE cool where I come from'.

The last two years have been lean for the big Russian and a wage cut looms if he doesn't top up those palmares.

Evan is at 1:59 and obviously in good shape, he's had the pink jersey on his back, won the Fleche and seems highly motivated - just a shame he has no team.

And there's the name that cannot be spoken, 'the durty kazak' as one rider I know refers to him.

Vino is back, and with a 'bang!'

Vino, back with a bang.

He's at 33 seconds and despite his tendency to have a bad day in Grand Tours, don't forget that this is a man who was winning quality stage races 13 seasons ago - Dunkirk, 1998 - and has a Vuelta win under his belt from 2006.

Today's blast up the gravel is right up his street and he could be back in pink, tonight.

And what of Simoni?

With a deficit of 22:10 he certainly doesn't need to worry about the heads chasing him if he gets in a break.

Anyway, that's us just about in Carrara to get our creds - and hopefully a coffee.

A domani!

Outside the Coco Lounge the guys go into clinches with their girls on the pavement, one even has his black beauty do a couple of twirls.

"I did OK there, man?" he asks me as he looks up to where I'm leaning over the balcony.

I give him the thumbs up.

Pete takes it further, he goes down to dance with one of the TV's who are cruising the strip.

I'm happy to watch the guys out freezin' their elbows in all manner of vehicles from beat up 70's Toyotas to gleaming white pick ups with LCD displays glowing behind the hubs of gleaming over size wheels - Pete want's one.

This is my favourite time in Trini, it's warm, the motors cruise, the music pumps, the beer is cool and there's just no stress.

Trouble is, it's 03:00 before you know it.

Pumpin' that black gold.

We're headed way down south today, past San Fernando and the Arima velodrome; the Hindu funeral pyres beside the sea; the 'nodding donkey' oil pumps which maintain Trini's position as the wealthiest nation in the Caribbean, almost to the Columbus Channel which separates Trinidad from Venezuela - to Palo Seco.

Where it is. (click for the full image)

The roads are narrow, twisting, bumpy and Arnold has to hustle the Maxi Taxi to get us down on time for the start at 13:00.

We arrive late, but no one is counting.

Not everyone pays to watch the racing. (click for the full image)

"Palo Seco" means dry stick - very appropriate given the tinder dry state of just about everything.

With the first race starting at 14:00, it's even hotter than usual - the breeze is our saviour.

This event isn't part of the Beacon series of events - it's actually the annual sports festival for this area of Trinidad.

Like a Scottish Highland Games but without the dancers, cabers, bookies and beer tent - although you can get ice cold Carib.

The Palo Seco Games.

There's an athletics track marked out inside the cycling track, there's no problem with fitting it in; the concrete bowl is 500 metres around - that's a big lap.

The track is well maintained but a tad 'lumpy bumpy' and Pete says the bankings are too steep for the radius, making it very hard to stay upright on the them at low speed.

The difficult banking. (click for the full image)

Just a little wavey.

But there's a photo finish - just a pity that Chiappa and Sellier aren't riding, here.

As the cyclists change into racing gear, over on the grass the javelins fly as the drums pound those voodoo rhythms.

A proper multi-sport games.

The sprinters do their thing.

The runners run, the Arima Wheelers fan club gathers in the stand and to sit out in that sun would be unimaginable.

Franco starts the racing.

Carola enjoys the cool breeze.

Homeboy, Elijah Green takes the first heat of the 500 metres easily, meanwhile, the Euro guys debate the merits of the track.

For most of them, it's their first time on the super steep track; albeit an hour's training time was allocated before the Games started - but we were late.

Dan Harm leads. (click for the full image)

Canada's Stefan Cossette took the two lapper - he's quick but tends to go to sleep in a match situation.

Canadian champ, Stefane Cossette.

A local hero is Hasley Crawford, 100 metres sprint gold medalist at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Hasley Crawford.

Michael Phillips gives me an introduction to the great man;

"This track is special for me; at the start of my career I missed qualification for the Caribbean Games, but at a meeting on this track I beat all the guys who qualified and that got me my first international selection.

The track was different then, there was a big bamboo grove above the cycle track banking, back then - and you used to aim yourself at it!

When I won my Olympic gold, I based myself in Crystal Palace, London - I raced all over the world, but London was my base.

My best time officially was right on 10 seconds, but I was 9.8 wind assisted; my best on grass was 10.4. We have some good sprinters coming through - I think our runners will be good for London 2012.

Bolt? He's special, I can't see anyone beating him for the next four years."

Jim Clark, one of his rivals from the old days squeezes past; 'did you used to beat this guy?' I enquire of Jim.

'All the time, man!' laughter all round.

The Arima fan club. (click for the full image)

Dave Wiswell and Gideon Massie.

Walter Perez.

Franco does his usual 'long way out thing' in the 3000 metres, but one and a half laps on this track is a long way; one of the Canadians sits in and comes by on the line.

Franco second.

The Devil goes Perez's way - his loyal Argentinian lead out men see to that.

The sprint final goes to Giddeon Massie from Home Boy Green by way of some nice match sprinting.

The last event is the big one - 30 laps under the flood lights, the air is cooler but still warm; the wind has died as the bunch rolls.

Race Speaker Ronald Dickie tells the rhythm section, "You must get involved!"

The band get a telling off, play louder!

The drums kick in and Franco and Dan Harm bolt with two locals, Martin Ferrari bridges and the five get down to it, their bikes snaking and squirming on the steep, uneven concrete.

Franco rides a lap at maybe 95% and one of the locals is blown, so is Ferrari.

Then the other local cracks, Harm is struggling but Franco waits; it's too far to go alone. Behind, the chasers can't get it together, not helped by gasping riders rolling off the track, wasted.

Seb Donadio, Walter Perez and T & T road champion Adam Alexander get it together briefly but still Franco and Harm plough on.

Two to go, Harm attacks - that ain't gonna work.

Franco closes him down, the bell rings, the Swiss climbs high on the banking, swoops and is gone - he wins by the length of the straight.

Franco follows the old adage, that 'you race to your own standards, not the others'.

Marvulli doesn't have to ride like that, but he's a pro with five world titles to live up to.

Dan Harm tells us Franco is the man.

And that's it - time for us to drive back to Port of Spain, pack the bags and catch the plane at 07:45 tomorrow.

Thanks for reading the diary, hope you've enjoyed the trip, and like they say down here; "all de best to ya!"

And it's goodbye from Peter.

But it's where the Scottish 10 Mile Time Trial Championship is taking place, today - under the shadow of mighty Ben Nevis.

Martin, our editor and web-guy is riding it and - strange though it may seem - I'd like to have been there.

Despite the total absence of non-cycling fraternity spectators and the fact that a high percentage of the field will be veterans, it's a Scottish Championship and deserves a little bit of attention ...

Meanwhile, just off the coast of Venezuela, the sun splits the sky and it's only that glorious wind from the ocean that makes life bearable.

What a view - savannah and the arts centre. (click for the full image)

It's around 10:15 and we're up at Fort Saint George with a drama on our hands; Rosebud - who is race series promoter, Michael Phillips' mum - drove us up here to catch the marvelous vistas over Port of Spain.

But her 4x4 won't fire up to make the trip down.

Uh oh. (click for the full image)

The British built the fort two hundred years ago but it never saw action - the big cannons still point out to sea, waiting on those French or Spanish Men o' War, which will never come.

The capital sprawls around the base of the hill on the ocean side.

The city's biggest green space, the Savannah - around which the opening race of the series took place - is clearly visible.

It was gifted to the people of Trinidad and can never be built upon.

Thumbs up from a local fella.

The futuristic - if owing a debt to Sydney Opera House - Trinidad Arts Centre sits beside it, built largely by Chinese labour, it invokes similar emotions to those that we have back in Scotland about the Parliament building - love or hate; nothing in the middle.

When Peter first visited here in 1995 there were just two high towers - but the petro dollars have made sure that shrines to capitalism reach for the sky, all over down town.

Rosebud's mechanic rescued us but we had to get out to walk the 'ramp' where one part of the mountain slid down one metre and the two road levels is now taken up with a batch of concrete.

Landslide.

Drop off was in cosmopolitan Saint James where it was 'doubles' time.

I've been promising to write about doubles all week - take a thin omelette base and pap a large dollop of chick pea curry in the middle.

Serve on grease proof paper, screw the end up to try to avoid curried shoes, bag, trousers, T-shirt and get to work on it.

They are superb - and relatively healthy.

Just across the way from our street vendor's cart was legendary Trini watering hole, Smokey and Bunty.

Smokey and Bunty.

The Stag is cold, the cool breeze blows in off the street and Trini sporting heroes look down on the punters, from the walls.

The sun is a fireball beneath which, 'tiny mites,' juveniles, juniors, BMX, masters and runners perform as the crowd gathers for the 'All Stars' race.

There's a one lapper for the big riders; Franco rides a perfect lead out for Leif, swings off, and two Canadians zoom past.

'What happened?' asks Franco - Leif shrugs; 'bad legs.'

Carola finally gets the better of the local girls and gets to enjoy the view from the podium.

They present the prizes for last week's track sprint tournament at Arima.

Speaker, Ronald Dickie tells us; 'the rider who was second [Chiappa] had to return to Italy because of illness in the family.'

A little white lie from Ronald.

The shadows are longer for the big one but it's still baking hot - riders pour bottles of waters over their helmets.

The circuit is 'any crit, any where,' two long straights linked by a short straight at one end and a sweeping curve at the other.

Dan Harm keeps cool.

The surfaces are good and the wind makes the back straight a 50 kph plus job.

Early breaks ebb and flow but the one that sticks is six day stalwart Andreas Muller and Dan Harm - the big American has been getting stronger as the two weeks have progressed and today he's flying.

Harm and Muller motor.

The fans on the back street are on rum and Coke; 'here dey come, let's big dem up!'

Canada chase but can't harm Dan's lead (sorry) Andreas face tells the story of how fast they are going.

Ryan Sabga hurting. (click for the full image)

Along at the curved end of the course, guys are practicing passing a rugby ball - but a picnic table covered with an impressive array of beer and spirits leaves questions about how serious their sporting goals are.

The rugby guys' recovery drinks.

Across the road at the Harvard Club (members only) they're out on the pavement to watch.

Meanwhile, a giant Carib poster teases the riders about ice cold beer from on high.

Ronald offers $5,000 for the first rider to get across to break - that cash is safe.

The course passes the statue of calypso king, Lord Kitchener the old Roxy Cinema and back into the finish straight behind The Oval.

The gap is a minute and growing; five jump clear to avoid the ignominy of being caught by 'Little and Large' but eventually they drop the lap and it's the usual chaos.

Franco is the perfect lead-out man.

Pete reckons Harm might win, I figure that Andreas has got round too many sixes to blow it now - if Bruno Risi can't drop Andreas, I can't see Dan Harm doing it.

Franco rides locomotive for the last lap and Andreas comes home just behind third placed (but lapped) Walter Perez to clinch it.

Andreas calls home after his win.

Before the prize awards, there's live entertainment; well, to backing tracks - Terry Seals then Maximus Dan who wrote and performed the Trinidad and Tobago world cup song, 'Soca Warriors.'

Maximus Dan.

He's also a bit of philosopher; "spendin' all day in bed don't achieve nothin' - just means you well rested!"

Prize time next; the podium girls are lovely, lovely - but I could be their granddad.

Very beautiful, but wrong generation.

I lose Pete, I can't find him anywhere - but who's that on the podium singing along with Donadio and Franco?

Yeah, it's Pete!

Jeez, I could use a shower.

Much of the T & T 'Soca' music is topical, dealing with social issues like drugs and gang violence; political, blaming the politicians for high prices and squandering public funds or be-rating certain ethnic groups - I'm not sure a lot of it would get played in the UK.

Our morning mission was to take Leif to the supermarket and pick up his bikes ready for them to go on the ferry to Trinidad.

Leif has his girlfriend and family members over, they're staying in a rented villa in Tobago and Leif will travel in at the last minute to ride Saturday's crit in Port of Spain.

Leif shopped, Andreas made good use of the villa's swimming pool and Pete took me to Store Bay to see where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean.

Store Bay. (click for the full image)

The north side of Tobago sits on the Caribbean, whilst the south side catches the bigger breakers from the South Atlantic - at the eastern and western tips of the island, the sea meets the ocean.

Lifeguard post. (click for the full image)

Why they have lifeguards. (click for the full image)

Bob Marley's face is everywhere in Tobago, and Store Bay is no exception - the towels bearing his image are coolly kitsch or ghastly, depending on your point of view.

Cool or horrid - you be the judge. (click for the full image)

We also got a skek at the current 'must have' Tobago wheels, man; the Nissan 'Cube.'

As the name suggests, it has a very square 'boxy' shape and looks like a child's image of a car, but it's cool. (click for the full image)

All manner of customisation takes place, blacked out windows, lowered suspension, lights under the cills, additional valances below the rear bumper, over size wheels with ultra low profile rubber - and if you're real cool, giant Kalashnikov decals.

Shopping done, bikes dropped, it was time for the main event - a loop round Tobago in the hire car.

Where in the world we are. (click for the full image)

Head east, and it all calms down.

Scarborough, the capital is hectic - crowds, open air stalls, music, cars, guys drinking beer on the bar patios, shapely girls promenading.

The cat from Scarborough to Port of Spain.

But head east and it all calms down, the road chases the Atlantic coast, the views are stunning and if it wasn't for the breeze it would be brutally hot.

Cars quietly rust away; moored boats have rods and lines set waiting for a bite; traffic is light and bars have doors and windows open to catch the breeze.

Quietly rusting away. (click for the full image)

We pulled in for a Carib at an ocean side bar and typical of all good Tobago bars, the brew was ice cold.

Despite their preeminent position as the island's top beer; Carib never ease up on the marketing - there are Carib posters, banners, giant inflatable bottles and signs everywhere.

You're never far from a Carib.

Betsey's Hope was a good photo opportunity, complete with cannon and vandalised phone.

Pete in broken phone foto op.

Pete in cannon foto op!

Betsey was a slave woman who was into the voodoo and fixed it so that the slave master's wives felt the pain if the slaves received beatings - spooky!

The vistas became ever more spectacular - and the photo-ops kept coming, Pete the lifeguard, Pete the goat herd.

Pete the lifeguard foto op.

Pete the goat herd foto op.

At Speyside, the cool Rasta guy took time off from renovating his bar - with it's wonderful views across the bay - to make us fruit smoothies; 'I don't use ordinary water, dat's coconut water,' we believed him, they were amazing.

The view takes in Goat Island and Little Tobago Island - the former is where James Bond creator, Ian Fleming had a house; it's clearly visible from the beach.

James Bond was created here. (click for the full image)

Looking down on Charlotteville.

Just past Speyside, the road rears north across the ridge to find the Caribbean near Charlotteville.

Pete took us to a view point at a communications mast, high above the road.

To the left, the Atlantic, to the right, the Caribbean - stunning. (click for the full image)

The climbs on this road are savage, many of them are used in the Tobago Classic (Tour of Tobago), a five day stage race which takes place through the end of September to the start of October.

It's pretty hilly round on the island. (click for the full image)

Motor Point's Pete Williams (who won the 2009 Drummond Trophy) won last year - big boned sprinters need not apply.

Stunning vista follows stunning vista, the bamboo grows beside the road and all of a sudden - there's Glasgow.

Well, the 'Glasgow Bar' with a view that would cost a fortune in Europe.

And yes, they do stock Tunnocks caramel wafers.

Just gorgeous. (click for the full image)

'Englishman's Bay' is off the main drag, but Pete knows the ropes here and we were soon sitting in the elevated dining room eating fish and chips as the warm waters lapped at the beach, behind us.

Englishman's bay.

Up at Moriah, we missed our turn for Plymouth and ended up in Mason Hall.

Between Mason Hall and the main Claude Noel Highway, we saw one - hand painted - road sign.

We guess the thinking is that the locals know where they're going and if fool tourists are using the roads, then they should have a local guide.

We headed for Mount Irvine Bay so as Pete could have a dook (that's swim to non-Fife readers) and we could watch the sun set.

Time for a swim. (click for the full image)

The sunset was beautiful, not as nice as an Ullapool sunset but not bad at all for the Caribbean.

Not bad - for the caribbean! (click for the full image)

But did he beat the world? All will be revealed.

Today's sports pages.

"Stop playin' de ass hole an' listen!' Dem Trini shop manager girls don't put up with no nonsense from their staff.

Shopping malls are a big thing here, maybe because they have the best air conditioning. If you're in there for a while you forget about what awaits outside; it's like walking into a casting plant - bang!

We missed the school gig, the driver got lost and we eventually met the riders on their way back from the school; it's Tobago, - 'so no point in stressin', man!'

It's race day, today - a 1.1 kilometres per lap criterium around the Dwight Yorke Stadium.

The Dwight Yorke Stadium.

Being a football Phillistine, I didn't know much about Mr. Yorke but the guide tells me; 'Tobago-born football star and leading striker for UK teams like Manchester United and Aston Villa".

He was an integral part of Trinidad & Tobago's unsuccessful World Cup campaign in 1989.

Years later, he captained T & T to an impressive debut at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where the islands made history as the smallest country ever to qualify.'

And apparently now he's coaching in Australia, but his folks still live here and he has a house on the island.

The guys rode out to the venue; the stadium sits in a sun baked valley, outside of Tobago's capital, Scarborough; the kids train and dream of Man U. whilst just a few yards away from the stadium, the cows nibble at the dry grass.

Emile before the race.

'Say Hi to Shona' shouts Pete.

As is the Caribbean norm, the music was pumping, albeit the buzz was lower key than Savannah because of the location - 'in the sticks' rather than in the middle of town.

School kids had been bussed out, and again it was Giddeon Massie who pulled the crowd.

Giddeon and his fans.

First up was the one lap BMX - it was the guy with the skinny tyres who was quickest.

BMX on skinnies, an easy, cheap and very cool way to let the kids try other aspects of the sport.

Then the two lapper for locals - a subdued affair.

Start time was around 5:00 pm and it was still baking hot.

In this heat, you have to keep drinking or you'll dehydrate; I tried an 'Ultra Malt' - a fizzy malty brew which is nice if it's ice cold, but I wouldn't want to try it luke warm.

With $500 on the line for the end of lap one, it was a rapid start.

Ronald Dickie covers them races 'real close'. (click for the full image)

The course reminded me of one of those 70's English pro criterium courses - up and down a dual carriageway with one 180 degree turn and the other around a technical intersection.

Seb.

Andreas.

Emile grabs his drink.

Carola.

No one was enjoying it, especially Carola, who went out of the back pretty early after hanging on well into the second half of the race at the Savannah.

Game over for Carola.

Big local, Adam Alexander who placed third on the Savannah was out early, too - his big frame unsuited to the constant braking and accelerating.

Adam Alexander calls it quits early on too.

Five went clear early - Andreas Muller (Austria), Sebastian Donadio (Argentina), Emile Abraham (Tobago), Adam Chuss (Canada) and the surprising Dan Harm (USA), burning a lot of watts getting his tall frame back up to speed after every turn.

Dan Harm likes the tracks better than the roads.

It was obvious that it was the move of the day; Adam's team mate, Jean-Michel Lachance tried to bridge but ended up frying in no man's land.

Leif Lampater (Germany) didn't fry, he sliced across to the break cleanly - however, I did hear one of the break members holler to the others; 'OK, let's go!' when the German bridged up.

Leif punches across to the break in no time flat.

The six worked sweetly for a lap or two - until the hyper active Lampater vamoosed to Hoover up the primes.

His girlfriend arrived the day before so he had to impress - not to mention pay for the villa rental.

The break. (click for the full image)

What was left of the peloton was lapped just as Leif was caught - this caused the usual muddle.

Once things settled, Leif went again with nine to go; one of the locals thought it was a good idea to go with him - whether he was a lap down or not.

Erin Hartwell and Pete engage in a little debate.

With five to go, all of the lapped riders were pulled out and still Leif scooped the lap dough up ahead.

Three to go and Emile initiated the chase, Leif had been out front too long and soon succumbed.

Seb took the prime on the bell lap and it all that was left was the big one.

Seb goes prime hunting. (click for the full image)

We didn't see Emile's move, it came on the chicane - he went through it flat out, the others couldn't follow and it was the skinny Home Boy with the good dance steps and big smile who flashed through the line, arms high.

I've seen smaller scrums around a Classic winner - TV, radio, papers, family, fans.

Tonight's podium.

We 'limed' (that's 'hang out' or 'chill' to us) with Emile after the race.

I asked Emile his philosophy about how bike racing can fit in with partying 'til late;

"You can stay out late, but you can't drink too much, one maybe two beers, maximum and you want to keep off your feet, sit down as much as you can.

When you get home you should give yourself a little self-massage and then drink plenty of water before you go to bed - if you do all of that, you'll have no problems."

Emile coaches too, he has eight clients and has some strong views on coaches who give clients a schedule too far ahead (I've cleaned it up, a little.)

"You can't do it man, no way!

How do you know how a guy is going to feel tomorrow, never mind in one month?

You have to be emailing, phoning all of the time to see how they feel after the session and what's happening in their life - one month ahead is just crazy!"

So now we know.

Scarborough shoreline. (click for the full image)

Just before we met up with Emile, we were standing on the shore down at Scarborough, the stars were bright, the Carib was cold and the great, but sadly late, Teddy Prendergast was spinning on the DJ's deck.

When you get older, you get better at recognising when you're having the time of your life.