In The (Time) Zone by David Olle, Italy, +39 333 5959 217 (twitter feed @DavidOLLE)

Stage 13, May 20, Spilimbergo - Grossglockner 159 km
Who said this Giro was boring?  Today I saw Euselesstel on the front of the peloton, working!  And they were miles from the Pyrenees and the Basque country, in fact they were in Austria, riding away from Bilbao.  Yet, all to no avail, Alberto rolled to the front on the final climb, and belted them all.  Nibali is now in 2nd place, more than 3 minutes back.  Contador has killed the race. 

All the sprinters have left…  Contador has 3 of the classification jerseys…
(Australia used 3 different riders to win three jerseys last year) 

Results
1 José Rujano Guillen (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 4:45:54  
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard    
3 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:27 

General classification
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 49:40:58  
2 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:03:09  
3 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:03:16 

Skippy report:  Cameron Meyer made it into the break today and had a good ping while up there.  Mat Wilson and Brett Lancaster still hanging in.  

Cuisine Report:  Good mountain fare for dinner tonight, here in Cortina.  Polenta, wild mushrooms, locally made sausages and scamorza (grilled slab of cheese).  Solid stodge!  Only the tough and hearty went back for seconds.

We’re off to Zoncolan and Ovaro tomorrow, should be a bit o’ fun. 

Tomorrow:   Stage 14, May 21 Lienz - Monte Zoncolan 210 km

In The (Time) Zone by David Olle, Italy, +39 333 5959 217 (twitter feed @DavidOLLE)

Stage 10, May 17, Termoli - Teramo 156 km
The breakaway caught at 10k to go, the sprinter's teams worked hard to keep their boys near the front, Cavendish came off Petachi's wheel and opened his Giro account for 2011.  Well done to him and our Mark Renshaw who led him out.

Results
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad 4:00:49  
2 Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar Team    
3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre - ISD

General classification
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard    
2 Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) HTC-Highroad    
3 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Team Garmin-Cervelo

Skippy report:  Robbie McEwen was up there for the sprint but faded in the finale, Richie Porte just working away, keeping Alberto near the front and in pink.  It'll be a long way to Milano for him.

Cuisine Report:  Last night, after Pauline presented yet another perfect soufflé to the dinner table, we asked about the ingredients, and preparation.  The answer was pretty neat.  In her best English full of her charming French accent she said ‘I use eggs, flour, milk, butter....and ...voila!' 
It was the 'voila' part that killed us.   

Our ride today, Ornon loop, from Bourg d'Oisans:  
Tomorrow:   Stage 11, May 18, Teramo - Castelfidardo 162 km

In The (Time) Zone by David Olle, Italy, +39 333 5959 217 (twitter feed @DavidOLLE)

Stage 9, May 15, Messina - Etna 159 km
Well the news of the day is that race leader Pieter Weening went backwards, and out of pink almost as fast as Contador went forward on the volcano, and into the pink jersey.  Meanwhile, here in the French alps, we rode Alpe d'Huez today, and it snowed when we were at the top.

Barring some natural disaster, like a volcano eruption, Alberto Contador will win this year's ‘Giro d'Italia' on one leg.  (That's a little Italy pun, ha-ha).
Stage 9 results
1  Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank)           4:54:09
2  José Rujano (Androni)                   + 0:03
3  Stefano Garzelli (Acqua&Sapone)         + 0:50


General classification after Stage 9
1  Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank)          33:03:51
2  Kanstantsin Sivtsov (HTC-Highroad)      + 0:59 
3  Christophe Le Mevel (Garmin-Cervelo     + 1:19 

Skippy report:  At last year's Giro, I remember saying that these were the golden days of Australian cycling.  This year's Giro is backing me up.

Cuisine Report:  Enjoyed a ‘chocolate chaud' at ‘La Garde'today, Alpe d'Huez corner no. 16.  Not quite stiff enough to hold the spoon upright, but after a little bit of snow on top of the Alpe, and a very cool descent, it was well received. 

Tomorrow:  Monday May 16, rest day