On a day that promised a salvo of fireworks on the grueling slopes of the dreaded Mortirolo, the changes were closer to the cap gun variety. Di Luca blew, Sella flew, and only 4 seconds separate the top 2. But with everything on the line in tomorrow’s final stage, this is what makes top class bike racing.

I rode both the Passo Gavia and Mortirolo ahead of the race on the May 27 stage 20 at the 2006 Giro. After 7 hours, over 3 hours of climbing, 130km, and some serious pain, I can say that was one of the best rides ever… check this out…

"Savol is doing a trojan's work, gap is now 1-32 to gruppo Bert - wait - ! Di Luca gone alone now - Savol blown -." We're atop of the Passo della Presolana and Richard is watching the action on Cycling.TV, and emailing us from PEZ HQ to my the Black Berry.

The Tinkoff team came up with the goods as their rider Vasili Kiryienka profited from getting away from the day's huge breakaway, but the big names put on the show behind on some of the few remaining passes on the march to Milan in the 2008 Giro. Contador lost time, but held on to pink; by the hairs on his chinny chin chin, as Di Luca, Ricco, and seemingly everybody else launched plane loads of attacks. At the end of the day, the Giro had been turned upside down.

Thursday – stage 18 – Mendrisio to Varese and the finishing laps of the 2008 World’s circuit. The final gc battle begins again tomorrow, but there’s still 147km of hills and racing to get through now. It was another day at the office for the GC boys, but for us - it was another day at the Giro!

It’s been a while since Jens Voigt has nailed a stage win in a Grand Tour, but the wait ended this afternoon with a brilliant and typically flat-out ride to the victory. CSC’s German star produced a thunderous solo attack out of an all-star breakaway to score this afternoon’s podium time.

It’s back to work at the Giro d’Italia, and the valiant PEZ Crew hit the road early to take in the start, the finish, and all points in between on today’s 17th tappa to Switzerland – plus have a quick chat with Team High Road’s Mark Cavendish.

Today's return to racing should be a gentle one for the riders as they head through Lombardia to this year's only foreign finish in Locarno, Switzerland after passing by the Lagos Como, Lugano, and Maggiore. Sprint or Break, Break or Sprint?

It’s the last day of rest before the final chase to Milano, but the car trip to tomorrow’s stage start is a long one. Good thing the sun is shining and the countryside is gorgeous… here’s how the day looked to us.