Kessler improving

Part of the 19-man break on Saturday's stage to Ortisei, T-Mobile Team's Matthias Kessler finds his form improving each day, and his sixth place on Stage 13 leapfrogged the 26 year-old from 21st to 15th place overall.

"It was a really tough stage, but it went great for me again," said Kessler on the team's website, t-mobile-team.com, after the stage.

Added directeur sportif Valerio Piva: "Matthias rode a great race. He is an out-and-out climbing specialist. Such a good placing is a morale booster for the team, particularly after losing Daniele Nardello through back problems. But the mood in the team is good, and the riders are in good form."

Unfortunately on Stage 14, Kessler didn't have the day he was hoping for, finishing the day in 29th place, and as a result, the German slipped back to his previous position, 21st on the overall classification.

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