21.   Will the top riders even try out for the team?

22.   Pantani and other top riders, including Jalabert and world champion Oscar Camenzind, threatened to withdraw from the Giro if further Italian Olympic Committee tests were demanded.

23.   Other top riders casually chat with fans and the media before each stage.

24.   A lot of top riders are gone, including Mario Cipollini, who won the first two stages, and Johan Museeuw, the current world champion.

25.   Another top rider thrown out of the race and another put out because of a positive test for doping.

26.   Another top Giro rider, Stefano Garzelli, was suspended Tuesday after testing positive for a banned diuretic.

27.   Armstrong, who rides for the U.S. Postal Service Team, has said all along that he can dominate other top riders in the mountains.

28.   Defending champion Jan Ullrich is set to strike to stake his claim as the top rider of the Tour.

29.   He was not entered Sunday along with a number of top riders with the world championships coming up next week.

30.   Judges selected the top riders, but no points were awarded.