1.   Meanwhile, authorities placed Italian rider Rodolfo Massi under investigation, one step short of charging him, the first such action against a cyclist.

2.   Representing the team are newly signed Italian rider Roberto Gaggioli, British racer Malcolm Elliott, plus Trent Klasna and Peter Stubenrauch.

3.   Van Bon was contradicted by the new man in the yellow jersey, Alberto Elli, an Italian rider with Telekom.

4.   Criville dueled with the ailing Italian rider throughout the final eight laps, alternating with Biaggi in the lead.

5.   Criville dueled with the ailing Italian rider throughout the last eight laps, alternating with Biaggi in the lead.

6.   Francesco Casagrande, an Italian rider for the Fassa Bartolo team, finished second in the stage, four seconds behind the winner.

7.   French authorities probing drug use during the Tour de France placed Italian rider Rodolfo Massi under formal investigation Friday, one step short of charging him.

8.   He edged Italian rider Paolo Bettini, who took the silver medal, and Andrej Hauptman of Slovenia, who placed third.

9.   He edged Italian rider Paolo Bettini, who took the silver medal, and Andrej Hauptman of Slovenia who placed third.

10.   In the cases of Llaneras and of Italian rider Massimo Strazzer, the second test came back negative.