Gunning for number one

Starting Alessandria and finishing 218 kilometres later in La Thuile with a descent from the monstrous Colle San Carlo, Stage 13 offers Basso's rivals there first-best opportunity to take a chunk out of the Italian's hefty lead.

With a 10.52-km long ascent, a maximum gradient of 15%, and an average gradient of 9.8%, one of the mountain goats will surely make a move at San Carlo.

After losing more than five minutes to Basso on Thursday's time-trial, 2004 race victor Cunego promised this weekend would belong to him.

"Fortunately my bad Giro is finished," said the Lampre leader after stage 11. "Now the mountains come and I'll attack everywhere.

"People think the Giro is finished. I say that my Giro is starting now."

On Friday Saunier Duval and Gilberto Simoni were making similar promises.

"It is the first of the real mountains and there is no time to hide. Simoni will attack. He will try on each climb. He will give everything," promised Simoni's sporting director Pietro Algeri.

"Whoever finishes on the top of the mountain first today will win at the finish line."

Of Basso's principal challengers for the pink jersey, only Paolo Savoldelli was openly weary of Basso's skills on the climb.

"I will not attack because a mountain finish is better for Basso," the Discovery leader and two-time winner said.

More than seven minutes behind Basso in the general classifications, Danilo Di Luca knows the time is now, however.

"On San Carlo climb I'll try to attack," the Liquigas leader put it simply.

As for Basso, the race leader has always said he's taking the race day-by-day. He is far from overconfident despite his seven minute leads over Cunego, Di Luca and Simoni.

"I don"t think Cunego and Simoni have the intention to ride for second place," Basso said on Friday. "They are champions and they will make my life difficult."

"I"m expecting the worst every day."