Greig Leach

The pair on the front of this three man break away had some issues to discuss from yesterday's stage. Enrico Barbin (Bardiani CSF) had managed to bridge across from the peloton at the base of the first climb of this Giro. That was fine, but in so doing he also got to the top of the climb just ahead of the Israel Cycling Academy rider, Guillame Boivin. That meant that today, Boivin had to go with Barbin on another break in hopes of bettering the Italian on today's sole climb. This early King of the Mountains jersey was the best hope for the home team to have a leader's jersey. Marco Frapponti (Androni Giocattoli-Spidermac) was happy to get on the wheels of two motivated (although a bit irrateable adversaries). Today's stage took the peloton into the dessert and to the southern most city of Eilat, not quite the lush hills of Tucsany.