Team CSC's Ivan Basso finished in fifth place in the first really hilly stage of this year's Giro, two seconds behind Danilo Di Luca. His team made sure he was well positioned before the last climb, and he finished ahead of all the main GC riders.
"As the attacks were launched on the climb, I had a really good feeling in my legs, and once again it was nice to confirm my great shape," said Basso on the team's website, team-csc.com. "Usually a short uphill finish like this is not my cup of tea, so it gives me a lot of confidence to be up front in today's stage. If the climb had been a couple of kilometres longer, the result could've been different. The team did an amazing job for me, and I really feel I'm getting the best support possible, when I have to position myself or if we have to increase the pace."
