You can tell when a rider has targeted a stage in a grand tour.

Endless kilometres of patience, self-preservation and belief have been in storage for the day that has been singled out as the one.

As Ivan Basso rode the last 40km of stage 19 of the Giro on Friday, with his young and talented teammate (and former maglia rosa wearer), Vincenzo Nibali on his wheel, he rode the last two climbs like a man possessed.

Michele Scarponi is a man who looks more like a 45-year-old Russian submariner than a sub-30 year-old bike rider (but that’s just adding support to my Mum’s argument that “cycling makes you look very old, darling!”) He may have won the stage, but it was Basso who soared his way into the pink jersey and caused a flurry in the chase group and media alike.

Cadel Evans was unable to keep pace, and Vinokourov and Sastre looked tired. Even the current maglia rosa, Arroyo (on a truly heinous lolly-pink coloured Pinarello), was unable to hold onto the lead, despite some fabulous descending before the penultimate climb.

For Basso, it must have seemed like a plan that has been in the making for four years. He won the 2006 Giro d’Italia by a startling nine minutes, and was then unceremoniously banished from the sport two months later for his association with Operation Puerto.

There were some remarkable stories surrounding his two-year ban from racing: he rode two 3-week tours in training in 2007, mimicking le Tour de France and the Vuelta Espana, completely solo, on the hills and rolling roads around his home in Varese.

He took on a new coach, of esteemed reputation, in Aldo Sassi (also the brains behind Evans’ training program). He stayed quiet, rode endless days fending off mockery, derisive journalists, disbelief and adoration of some Italian fans.

And when he returned to the Giro in 2009, he was good, but not spectacular.

So it’s not surprising that the bright green and blue of Team Liquigas Doimo has been omnipresent at the front of the peloton over the past two weeks. Even when one would expect the magia rosa’s team to be responsible for chasing breaks and taking control.

Basso had told me he was targeting two particular days at the Giro: stage 15 to Mount Zoncolan (where he defied gradients of 24% and won the stage) and yesterday’s stage 19 where he proved stronger than the rest.

For Evans and the other contenders, the frustration and desperation was palpable. To be in a chase group with your own competitors must be a terrible conflict of interest – you want to lose at little time as possible to the leaders, but the guy right next to you is also gaining an advantage from your mighty efforts.

It was a remarkable stage. ‘Un etappa magnifico’ as the television contenders excitedly yelled!

But of course, there were three Italiani in front and, as we waited for Arroyo to cross the line over three minutes later, the shamelessly biased voices counted down the seconds like a NASA shuttle launch. “Basso e le nuova maglia rosa!”

Before the stage, Arroyo was in pink, Basso second, the wonderful young Aussie Richie Porte still in third, with Cadel fourth, and Sastre, Nibali, Vino and the submariner Scarponi in quick succession to make up the top eight.

After demolishing these world class riders in a great display of courage and self belief, Basso moved into the race leader’s jersey and within grasp of winning his first Grand Tour since exile in 2006.

As someone who has trained with him, been witness to his dedication and seen his disappointment and regret at his flawed past, it was a thing of beauty.

Bridie O'Donnell is an Australian professional rider with UCI Team Valdarno (alongside 2009 World Champion, Tatiana Guderzo, and Italian Champion, Monia Baccaille) and spends six months of each year in Tuscany (where she is now) and six months in Melbourne. After the European season, she will compete in the 2010 Melbourne World Championships. She will be a regular cycling columnist for BackPageLead - (when she's not filing for her blog, Bridie.com.au.)