May 11, 2004 – Defending champ Gilberto Simoni  (Saeco) showed why he is the number-one favourite to win this year, taking the first tough stage of the Giro. Simoni flew up the Madonna delle Aceri, putting 15 seconds into Damiano Cunego (Saeco) and 16 into Alessio-Bianchi's Franco Pellizotti. More importantly, Simoni dealt a  moral blow to countryman Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola-Nobili Rubinetterie), putting over a half-minute into his chief rival. Check out the photos from Cor Vos later today.

Stage 3
1. Gilberto Simoni (Ita)  Saeco                                      5.46.09
2. Damiano Cunego (Ita)  Saeco                                          0.15
3. Franco Pellizotti (Ita)  Alessio-Bianchi                             0.16
4. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Ceramiche  Panaria-Margres
5. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr)  Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
6. Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita)  Saeco                                          0.32
7. Gerhard Trampusch (Aut) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe  Mokambo
8. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Nobili  Rubinetterie          0.34
9.  Dario David Cioni (Ita) Fassa  Bortolo
10. Andrea Noe' (Ita) Alessio-Bianchi

Overall:
1. Gilberto Simoni (Ita)  Saeco                                     14.13.58
2. Damiano Cunego (Ita)  Saeco                                          0.13
3. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr)  Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                     0.21
4. Franco Pellizotti (Ita)  Alessio-Bianchi                             0.29
5. Gerhard Trampusch (Aut) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe  Mokambo                0.41
6. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Ceramiche  Panaria-Margres                   0.45
7. Dario David Cioni (Ita) Fassa  Bortolo                               0.52
8. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) De  Nardi                                     0.58
9. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Nobili  Rubinetterie          1.05
10.  Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco