A race that has seen the Specialized – lululemon squad prominent in the peloton, has been won by Evie Steven. She and Claudia Häusler created the final two woman break on the Boise Road Race. Early activity by Clara Hughes (Specialized – lululemon) and Taylor Wiles (Exergy Twenty 12) pushed the pace of racing. In post race comments Stevens gave credit to the enthusiastic crowds that showed up to cheer on the riders. "Let's go race our bikes" was the feeling in the field according to Stevens.

The Byrds: Local Team and Taylor Wiles Fan Club

Taylor Wiles (Exergy Twenty 12)

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Boise 75 km

Final stage. lululemon all set to defend Neben's race lead.

Podiumcafe Potato Pick: Die Ina , who else?

Official site , Startlist , Stageinfo , PdC Race preview ,

Live Coverage: TOURTRACKER 19:00 CEST (13:00 US EDT, 03:00 AUS EST)

The Alpe di Pampeago stage finish was one of the most fun Giro stage finishes I've seen. The weather was nice, and everyone -- press, race organization staff, soigneurs -- seemed to be in a good mood. As we watched the race unfold on the big screen on the podium stage, we all kept looking at each other and grinning, because it was such a great, action-packed stage.

Everyone was thrilled by Kreuziger's stage win, especially the Astana soigneur seen in the photo above, celebrating as Kreuziger crossed the finish line.

Alla flippa...

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Teutenberg Sprints to victory in Idaho City.

Sunday in Boise dawns overcast but dry. There is much rejoicing. At the start in Crouch Idaho, an hour northeast of Boise, it was still cool and dry. On the summit of the second QOM, there is mixed snow and rain. The final descent in to Idaho City was wet and potentially hazardous.

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Garden Valley - Idaho City 93 km

This is the Queen stage with some heavy climbing to challenge the GC riders.

Podiumcafe Potato Pick: "Grumpy" Evie Stevens

Official site , Startlist , Stageinfo , PdC Race preview ,

Live Coverage: TOURTRACKER 20:00 CEST (14:00 US EDT, 04:00 AUS EST)

Garmin-Barracuda's Ryder Hesjedal time trialled his way past overall leader Joaquim Rodriguez of Katusha today to become the first Canadian to win the Giro d'Italia. Facing a 31 second deficit overnight, Hesjedal rode a risky but ultimately proficient time trial through the streets of Milan, slipping his back wheel a couple times but staying upright and thundering to sixth on the stage. Rodriguez became the world's top-ranked cyclist by several measures and defied the desperately low expectations for his crono effort, but nonetheless went home the hard-luck loser of the second-closest Giro in history.

Hesjedal's victory is notable for several reasons. It is the first grand tour triumph for his team in its five year run among the top ranking of the sport, which appeared as Slipstream-Chipotle in the 2008 Giro. Hesjedal becomes not merely the first Canadian grand tour winner but the first of his countrymen to appear on a grand tour podium. With Thomas De Gendt of Vacansoleil overcoming Lampre's Michele Scarponi for third, today's finish represents the first all-foreign podium at the Giro d'Italia since 1995.

The Victoria, British Columbia native was not a favorite to win coming into the Giro, regarded as a solid all-round climber and someone who had been surprising the experts but nonetheless unproven as a potential winner in the highest mountain passes, of which this Giro featured several. But Hesjedal said all along that this year's course suited him better than in past years, and his team, now a seasoned grand tour machine, functioned almost flawlessly to deliver him to the win.

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Milano 30 km TT

Completely open podium going into the final day deciding timetrial. Top 5 after Stage 20:

1. Joaquim Rodriguez
2. Ryder Hesjedal at 31 seconds
3. Michele Scarponi at 1:51
4. Thomas De Gendt at 2:18
5. Ivan Basso at 3:18
   
   Podicci's Pazzo Pick: Alex Rasmussen

Official site , Startlist , GC , Stageinfo , Starttimes TT below

Live video: 14:00 CEST (08:00 US EDT, 22:00 AUS EST)

Video: RAI , GazzettaTV , RAI World , steephill , cyclingfans , Procyclinglive , Sports Livez.

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Specialized lululemon sweep. Amber Neben, Evis Stevens and Clara Hughes go 1-2-3 at Kuna Idaho. The leaders jersey remains in house as well, on the shoulders of Neben. Neben covered the 17 km out and back course in 21'37". Stevens and Hughes finished 16 and 19 seconds back respectively.

Neben said it was a straight forward effort, almost like riding her trainer. Most people don't ride their trainers in a driving rain. It rained in north central Idaho for the second day running. Specialized is well positioned to defend the lead in the race. Specialized lululemon also controls the top four on general classification with Neben, Stevens, Hughes and Teutenberg. Just fourteen seconds separate the three teammates. The top ten riders are all within one minute of each other.

There was no change in the category leaders jerseys.

Below the fold, more photos.

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