Di Luca Giro podium

It's the 2007 Giro's final rest day and if, like us, you're bored of being stuck inside watching the rain dripping down the windows, here's what's coming up this week, plus a summary of the action so far, to keep you entertained...

Decisive week ahead

Six stages comprising 937km of racing are left to go in this year's Giro d'Italia. Two of those stages are likely to have a profound effect on the overall standings: Wednesday's stage that finishes up the mighty Monte Zoncolan, and Saturday's 43km individual time trial.

Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) was not widely tipped as an overall contender before the event, but has quickly shown that he has what it takes in the mountains and time trials. His Liquigas team, which includes Britain's Charles Wegelius, have also ridden beyond themselves to support Di Luca.

Eddy Mazzoleni's position behind Di Luca in the overall standings has raised a few eyebrows. The 32-year-old left T-Mobile last year despite having a year left on his contract, and joined Astana. Previously, he has not exactly excelled in stage races he was 27th in last year's Tour de France.

In third spot, young sensation Andy Schleck is giving CSC something to think about other than Bjarne Riis's doping confessions, with squabbling former Saeco team 'mates' Gilberto Simoni and Damiano Cunego rounding off the top six, all of whom are within three and a half minutes of leader Di Luca.

Wegelius is in a creditable 36th place overall after good performances in the opening team time trial and mountain stages. Also worthy of mention is Britain's Steven Cummings, riding his first Grand Tour and currently in 110th position.

GIRO D'ITALIA 2007: CURRENT OVERALL STANDINGS AFTER 15 STAGES

1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 68-00-55

2 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Astana at 1-51

3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC at 2-56

4 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir at 3-19

5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - Fondital at 3-23

6 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir at 3-39

7 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne at 6-05

8 Emanuele Sella (Ita) Ceramica Panaria - Navigare at 7-02

9 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Tinkoff Credit System at 7-29

10 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - Fondital at 9-29

BRITISH

36 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Liquigas at 53-02

110 Steve Cummings (GBr) Discovery Channnel at 2-12-50

GIRO D'ITALIA 2007: POINTS STANDINGS AFTER 15 STAGES

1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Milram 135 points

2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 108

3 Paolo Bettini (Ita) QuickStep 96

GIRO D'ITALIA 2007: MOUNTAINS STANDINGS AFTER 15 STAGES

1 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval 60

2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 41

3 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval 36

GIRO D?ITALIA 2007: STAGE WINNERS

1 Liquigas (TTT)

2 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Predictor-Lotto

3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Milram

4 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas

5 Robert Forster (Ger) Gerolsteiner

6 Luis Laverde (Col) Ceramica Panaria

7 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Milram

8 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) CSC

9 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital

10 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval

11 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Milram

12 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas

13 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre-Fondital

14 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone

15 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval

GIRO D'ITALIA 2007: FINAL WEEK STAGES

Tuesday May 29: stage 16: Agordo-Lienz (Austria) 189km

Wednesday May 30: stage 17: Lienz (Austria)-Monte Zoncolan 142km

Thursday May 31: stage 18: Udine-Riese Pie X 203km

Friday June 1: stage 19: Treviso-Comano Terme 179km

Saturday June 2: stage 20: Bardolino-Verona (individual time trial) 43km

Sunday June 3: stage 21: Vestone-Milan 181km

Total left to race: 937km

GIRO D'ITALIA 2007: STAGE REPORTS

For Steve Farrand's individual Giro stage reports click on the links below to go direct to the stories:

Stage 15: Ricco wins Giro mountain stage

Stage 14: Garzelli wins stage to Bergamo

Stage 13: Bruseghin victor in mountain time trial

Stage 12: Di Luca wins stage 12 and takes race lead

Stage 11: Petacchi scoops crash-strewn stage

Stage 10: Piepoli wins Giro stage, old hand Noe takes lead

Stage 9: Napolitano takes Giro stage nine

Stage 8: Arvesen beats Bettini to win Giro stage eight

Stage 7: Petacch wins Giro sprint on motor racing circuit

Stage 6: Pinotti takes Giro lead, Laverde wins stage

Stage 5: Forster wins Giro d?Italia sprint

Stage 4: Di Luca wins Giro stage and takes pink jersey

Stage 3: Petacchi wins third stage of Giro

Stage 2: McEwen wins Giro d?Italia sprint

Stage 1 TTT: Liquigas dominate Giro team time trial

GIRO D'ITALIA 2007: PHOTOS

A selection of images to remind you of the race so far...

Gilberto Simoni and Stefano Garzelli on the cobbles in Bergamo, stage 14

Steve Cummings enjoying his first Grand Tour on stage 14

Danilo Di Luca on his way to winning stage 12, and the leader's jersey

Alessandro Petacchi leads the points competition after winning three stages

A pre-race favourite, Paolo Savoldelli has struggled in this year's race

White jersey wearer Andy Schleck and fans

Britain's Charly Wegelius, currently in 36th spot overall

Paolo Bettini ends up on the deck after crashing at the end of stage 11

Carnage at the end of stage 11

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.