Stage 11 into L'Aquila caused major changes in the overall standings. Over 50 riders formed a leading group ahead of the peloton, and this group held at one point an advantage of 20 minutes. Sastre, Tondó, Wyss, and Gustov all made this selection, and Wyss and Gustov joined riders from Caisse d'Epargne, Team Sky, and Team Saxo Bank in driving the leading group, since all four teams stood to have riders highly placed in the overall standings should the group stay away. The overall contenders took back some of the time from the leaders' biggest advantage, but still ceded nearly 13 minutes to them. The day's results put both Tondó and Sastre in the top ten overall, at fourth and eighth respectively. Both riders finished with the peloton in stage 14, which went over Monte Grappa, conceding over two minutes to race favorites like Basso and Vincenzo Nibali, but moving up to third and sixth overall. Tondó lost out on overall contention in the next stage, losing 25 minutes on Monte Zoncolan. Sastre was sixth on this stage, 2'44 back of stage winner Basso. This put him in fourth overall before the uphill individual time trial to Plan de Corones after the second rest day.