Another quick Giro update:

The organizers have been sneaky this week- throwing in a few lumpy stages before offering another flat one, which has kept the sprinters interested right up until the parcours heads deep into the Dolomites.

Now, you have to respect the Cav. He arrived at the Giro having showed, well to be honest, not much thus far in the season. But he has obviously been building his form for the big Grand Tours and after being shaded by Pettachi early in the race, has shown what a star he is in the last couple of sprints. Now he can hang up the cleats and kick back until July..

Only slightly less exciting was the stage 12 start line biffo between Robbie Hunter and Sacha Modolo.  Pictures at Cycling Tips<click  But as one respondent suggested- a couple of guys in lycra with chicken arms going at each other is hardly a big deal.

On the Velgames Giro Competition<click, we have yet another new leader. Which at least keeps our game interesting, since in the real thing I reckon other GC contenders will have to jam something in Berties spokes if they're to get within a lazy Alp of the top podium step.. Ho hum, Contador still in front.

Hats off to Daniel and his Soy Smashers who are leading the pack, and I'm guessing that would be Daniel's second squad Let Them Eat (soy) Cake, coming in fourth at the moment too?  Daniel picked the Contador/Cavendish double, which has served him well. In between those two teams, RobBy and Tiny Avenger (''oh, Don't mind me, I just threw together any old team'') are fighting for second and third. Spare a moment's sympathy for Special K who are already busy nailing down the wooden spoon in Angus's Trophy cabinet.

So, hands up whose looking forward to this weekend's three mountain stages? Each one more terrifying and (hopefully) death defying than the last. Let's look forward to some ballsy breakaways as the roads reach for the sky. (C'mon NIBBLES... not that I have any personal interest in the matter).

Catch you all after our own, only slightly less spectacular, Tour de Clare. I've set the video recorder for the Zoncolan stage!

-snap.