The first part of the penultimate stage of the Giro d'Italia was good for Southeast with Matteo Busato (2nd in Forlì and 4th in Verbania) in the breakaway. On the climb of the Colle delle Finestre, the bad news came when Alessandro Petacchi abandoned his final Giro.

After the finish in Sestriere, Alessandro Petacchi explained: “I’m really sad not to be able to finish my 14th Giro. I have health problems: fever, stomach problems, nausea… I can’t reach Milan.”