Pellizotti Win Giro d'italia stage 17 Chieti - Blockhaus 79KM

GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 17 RESULTS
1 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 2.21.06
2 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 0.42
3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 0.43
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.48
5 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 0.57
6 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C. 1.54
7 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas 1.55
8 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad 1.59
9 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
10 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team

General classification GIRO D'ITALIA after stage 17
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 72.28.24
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 0.26
3 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 2.00
4 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 3.28
5 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 3.30
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 4.32
7 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad 7.05
8 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 8.04

Franco Pellizotti won the 17th stage of the Tour of Italy on Wednesday, an 83 kilometres ride from Chieti to Blockhaus.

Russia's Denis Menchov retained the overall leader's pink jersey with a 26-second advantage over Italian LPR rider Danilo de Luca.

As the Italian gradually extended his lead, Di Luca elected to up the ante, Menchov, Ivan Basso and Garzelli joining his bid to close the gap.

As Di Luca tried to eat into the Menchov overall lead Pellizotti maintained his rhythm, increasing his lead.

Di Luca's day was bolstered by his picking up eight bonus seconds for taking third place as he tries to wrest the race leadership from Menchov.

Pellizotti stands third overall, two minutes adrift with Basso fourth at 3:28, while Sastre is 3:30 off after an undistinguished ride Wednesday.

It was a third Giro stage win for Pellizotti after Peschici (2006) and a 2008 time-trial at Plan de Corones.

Thursday's 18th stage comprises a 182km ride from Sulmona to Benevento but the key challenge for Di Luca will be Friday's stage to Vesuvius, where Menchov will seek to hold him at bay as best as possible before the Russian looks to cement his status in Sunday's time-trial in Rome itself.

Pellizotti does not rule out making his own challenge for the crown on current form.
"Everything is still possible. Nobody expected to see me on the podium after my difficulties (Monday) at Monte Petrano. But I am in great form and there is still Vesuvius to come."