This was definitely a king's stage: 106km, 3,461m in altitude uphill and 4,082m downhill and a maximal altitude of 2,301 metres - a matter for the real tough guys. Michael Opper and Martin Mootz could hold their ground in the field and reached their aim Ponte di Legno after 6:17:55 hours with and average speed of 16,9km/h.