The sun picked out a piping ofsnow that ran along the range and Isavoured the sound of the syllables of its highest peak, Tapuae-o-Uenuku, or "footprint of the rainbow".
The usual stalwart of the green jersey, Erik Zabel, looks to have passed his peak, while O'Grady's countryman and the defending champion of the jersey, Robbie McEwen, has been struggling with injuries early this season.