"It is a great Giro, very hard, especially in the last week.   I hope to be like in 2004, also better. Now I don't want to think anymore about my 2005 season. I'm calm and optimistic, I'll try to make this Giro as a protagonist."

This year?s runner-up and former winner of the race, Gilberto Simoni, said that, "I am not in pole position.   Am I the number one favourite? No, I am number two! I know that I can still do great things but that doesn't change the fact that this is a very hard Giro."   Simoni singled out Rujano as a potential threat for the overall victory.

As always, send your thoughts and comments to me at ian@roadcycling.com. Or, how about discussing things further with our other readers. Post your comments in our FORUMS now.

Till next week,

Ian