By John Trevorrow in Grosseto
Christian Vandevelde (CSC)
CSC was again on the front of the peloton towards the end of stage 6 on Friday, on the finishing circuits. "That was just to keep out Ivan out of trouble. That's what it's all about now. Today we'll be doing the same, keeping him up the front towards the finish with that steep hill. It's all going well so far."
Stuart O'Grady
We asked Stuart O'Grady about the hectic finale in stage 6. "I got caught behind a couple of crashes," he said. "It was Friday the 13th and I got out of it with all the freckles intact. I was pretty happy in the end, I didn't panic, came back, got a half decent position at the finish, I just haven't got the legs at the moment to be really up there."
How did you feel about seeing your mate Henk off the front? "Big Dreek [Henk's nickname] lobbed off the front with a k to go. It was pretty cunning tactics actually, and Robbie's really something. After I got caught behind Petacchi's split, I got back on as they were stalling a bit. I was inclined to go straight by and saw it was Henk up front. I hesitated for that second, and it was too late. At 500 metres out, I thought Henk was going to get it.
"I'm just feeling better and better as the days go on. It's kind of what I was hoping for. On the first mountain day, I kind of hurt, but it's a pretty good build up for the month of July."
Henk Vogels (Davitamon-Lotto)
We asked Henk (5th yesterday) whether he had a good look at the replay of stage 6: "I'm still a bit in two minds I suppose," he said. "Maybe if Robbie didn't move, I would have won it. But he only moved because he was a bit worried, he felt them coming, and he wanted to get it. It would have been nice to win. But if Robbie hadn't have gone, maybe it would have been Kirsipuu that ran me down."
Brad Wiggins (Credit Agricole)
The British pursuit specialist is riding himself into the Giro, and is looking ahead. "I'm pretty good actually," he told Cyclingnews. "I'm enjoying it so far, we've been going a week now. The time trial tomorrow is my first personal goal. It's a little bit long but it's the same for everybody. I had some tough days in the last few days, but it's pretty good overall. I did the Giro two years ago, but I'm going much better this year and enjoying it much more. I really want to finish this one.
"We've got an Italian in the team [Caucchioli] who finished top five a couple of years ago. He is well placed in the GC, and my job is to look after him. It was also to look after Kirsipuu and Julian Dean in the sprints, but now Julian's out with a broken elbow."
Unfortunately for Wiggins and Credit Agricole, Caucchioli lost 1'29 to Cunego in stage 7 after puncturing before the foot of the final climb.
Baden Cooke (Francaise des Jeux)
Have you got your climbing legs on? "Nup. Not today," was Cookie's quick response.
