The faces of these Garmin riders just after the finish say it all. This cronosquadra, run in bad weather with half the teams in the field gunning for the win, was brutal.
More photos on the flip...
Team BMC crossing the line with an early best time.
Fabio Baldato, who's now a director with BMC, led his riders away from the podium area after Katusha came in with a new best time.
Pozzato gets some directions from a race official after his team sets the new mark to beat.
Katusha riders only had to watch the tv in the soigneurs' tent for a few minutes to see their stage lead fall to Team Sky.
When Sky came in with the new top time, Pippo went around and congratulated each Sky rider before leaving the finish area, which I thought was very classy.
It was obvious that Wiggins had left everything on the battlefield.
David Millar rides away after doing some interviews.
Szmyd and Bodnar share a handshake after coming in with the winning time.
Wiggins rides away from the podium area after Sky's time is beat.
HTC-Columbia's national champions, Rabon and Pinotti, shake hands after finishing with the third-best time.
Saxo Bank's Richie Porte does an interview, then waits for directions to the team bus.
The Liquigas team had fun on the podium, and everyone had a swig of the champagne.
Basso seemed particularly ebullient, smiling and laughing throughout the presentation.
Nibali took the maglia rosa amidst a shower of pink confetti.
Susie Hartigan for Podium Cafe