alessandro petacchi was the first rider to lead the 2003 giro d'italia after winning the opening stage. petacchi lost the lead to stefano garzelli after he won the stage seven summit finish on the monte terminillo. garzelli then lost the lead to gilberto simoni after the tenth stage. simoni went on to win the giro after expanding his lead through stage wins on the monte zoncolan and the alpe di pampeago the 2004 giro d'italia saw a battle between damiano cunego, serhiy honchar, and gilberto simoni. simoni gained the lead after the third stage and held it to the seventh stage where he lost it to cunego. cunego held the lead until the lengthy stage twelve individual time trial when yaroslav popovych took the lead. cunego regained the lead after the sixteenth stage and went on to win the race, while fellow italian alessandro petacchi won nine out of the 21 stages.