Alberto Contador proved yet again what a class act he is when the whips get cracking in the world's big races.
Along with defending Giro champion Danilo Di Luca, rising Italian all-rounder Ricardo Ricco and Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, Italy's Grand Tour showed glimpses of exploding into life on stage 7.
Di Luca was the instigator on the hilly terrain on the Apenine's summit, but for mine, Contador was the shining light as the the first salvos were fired in the Giro "war".
Podcast: video highlights of every stage of the 2008 Giro d'Italia
Contador looks like he walks on water when he attacks the big climbs - his light frame makes the hard work look so easy!
While his Italian rivals were doing it tough - particularly Di Luca - the Spaniard delivered a calculating performance.
Contador has gone through hell and back since his controversial victory at last year's Tour de France because of alleged links to the dopping syndicate Operation Puerto during his days with the Liberty Seguros team, and his ties with disgraced former team director Manolo Saiz
It's obvious the 28 year-old has matured since his meteoric rise to prominence.
But has he been forgiven for his sins?
Is he a drugs cheat?
I'd like to think Contador was mis-led by some crooked advisers during his dark days at Liberty Seguros.
"That's no excuse", I hear you say.
His former Australian teammate Allan Davis was never implicated, yet he'll probably never forget his days with the Spanish team, despite never being named in Operation Puerto.
Davis has only just managed to re-build his career by securing a new contract with a Continental team after almost a year in limbo.
As I hinted on this website at the start of the Giro, organisers have acted correctly for finalising Contador's late invitation.
I just wonder if Tour de France organiser, ASO, will follow in the footsteps of their Italian brothers by issuing a late invitation of their own for Contador and his team in July.
The form is there and it's only fitting the defending champion has the right to return to the place of his conquest.
Besides, given Contador's impressive start and the promise for more, there's no doubt world cycling will be robbed if he's forced to stay away from the Tour.
