The riders made it a crazy stage in the Giro d'Italia yesterday. A breakaway of 28 riders which Arnaud Courteille managed to join, animated the day and finally the big riders came out to play. Alexandre Geniez finished an excellent 14th.

The stage was short but the faces showed that the riders had had a huge battle fornearly four hours on a demanding course and it was Davide Formoloe (Garmin-Cannondale) who took the first win of his career.

"Formolo was the last survivor of a breakaway that was formed in two waves from the start," explains FDJ sports director Martial Gayant. Arnaud Courteille was there and he did did well be being in front. The peloton allowed the gap to reach 10 minutes in the feed zone and Arnaud was resilient. He was caught at the top of the final climb before the first crossing of the finish line in La Spezia and managed to support Alexandre Geniez. He had been positioned by Anthony Roux before the Passo del Termine just before the fight really started."

An attack by Astana made the peloton explode but Geniez retained his place in a group of 10 riders who cagh all attackers except Formolo Finally, the leader of the FDJ team had to let go eleven kilometers from the finish, on the Biassa climb but crossed the line 41 seconds beind the Aru group. He is now the fourth best team leader in the standings.

"Yes, Alex made ​​a good move because there were big gaps," Gayant says. "The team worked well. In the morning we had a good briefing that had prepared them. We need a good partner with Alex every day. Today it was Anthony. Tomorrow will be him or another. Kevin Reza, for example, who has gone through difficult days but will bounce back. The good news is that Jussi Veikkanen is getting better and better. I must say that if you rider like this for three weeks, I do not think many riders will be left in Milan."

Wednesday's fifth stage is short again and promises a new battle on the final ascent of Abetone.