51.   First to leave was LG Flatron, winner of the second leg and the overall leader, ahead of the Quadstone and Compaq yachts.

52.   Five riders are within one minute of the overall leader.

53.   For the second day in a row, Zulle wore the yellow jersey given to the overall leader.

54.   French national champion Laurent Jalabert, of ONCE, finished with the time as the leaders and retained the pink jersey of overall leader for the third straight day.

55.   Garzelli had won that stage, snatching the pink jersey from overall leader from Mario Cipollini.

56.   German cyclist Jens Heppner of Team Telekom retained the pink jersey of overall leader.

57.   Giro favorite Alex Zuelle regained the pink jersey of the overall leader Friday, winning the first mountainous stage of the Tour of Italy.

58.   He has won four of the long-distance circuit events this season and is the overall leader.

59.   Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan was third and overall leader Jose Maria Servia of Spain was fourth.

60.   He snatched the pink jersey from overall leader from Mario Cipollini.