Firstly Ivan Basso certainly looks set up to win this race. He ‘gifted’ Leonardo Piepoli the stage on Wednesday and yesterday sat happily in the bunch enjoying the view. Charly Wegelius is certainly enjoying his Giro and has been in two race winning breakaways and managed a top twenty on the rain soaked stage to Furkel Pass, only loosing 1’29” to the winning duo.

Stage 18 was another great day for the British Liquigas-Bianchi rider. Although the stage win escaped him he is showing he’s got the legs for the Giro and nearly managed to break the breakaway with an audacious last kilometre attack. Although he couldn’t win the stage he did manage to move himself up the GC and looks to be helping Liquigas towards winning the Team award, which will impress the sponsors and perhaps get him a seat on the Tour de France.

Results Stage 17 – Wednesday, May 24 – Termeno to Furkel Pass – 121 km

1. Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 3.21.26 (34.254 km/h)
2. Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC
3. José E. Gutierrez Cataluna (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 0.15
4. Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 0.19
5. Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio (Mex) Ceramica Panaria-Navigare 0.28
6. John Gadret (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance 0.37
7. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 0.41
8. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 0.48
9. Sergio Ghisalberti (Ita) Team Milram 0.58
10. Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team
13. Charles Wegelius (GBr) Liquigas 1.29

Results Stage 18 – Thursday, May 25 – Sillian to Gemona Del Friuli – 210 km

1. Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 5.31.33
2. José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears
3. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
4. David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0.02
5. Charles Wegelius (GBr) Liquigas 0.07
6. Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic 2.43
7. Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Team Milram
8. Matthew White (Aus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
9. José E. Gutierrez Cataluna (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems
10. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre-Fondital

General classification after stage 18

1. Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 73.30.47
2. José E. Gutierrez Cataluna (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 5.43
3. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 10.34
4. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 10.58
5. Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 12.30
6. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Selle Italia-Serramenti Diquigiovanni 13.00
7. Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 14.06
8. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 14.48
9. Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Col) Phonak Hearing Systems 16.40
10. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 17.48
59. Charles Wegelius (GBr) Liquigas 1.05.28