Inspired by victory achieved by captain Euskatel-Euskadi Igor Anton, on his way to conquer the summit of Monte Zoncolan stage 14, Mikel Nieve successfully provide a second win for Euskatel-Euskadi distage 15 Conegliano - Val di Fassa Gardeccia-229km.
While Saxo Bank-rider Alberto Contador SunGard, which is still able to maintain the Maglia Rosa Pink Jersey, third-place finish at the same time strengthen its position in Overal Classification, adrift more than 4 minutes with Lampre rider Michael Scarphoni-ISD.
Shown remarkable appearance Stefano Garzelli and Vincenzo Nibali, specifically for Garzelli, Italian veteran who has turned 30-year rampage in Val di Fassa climbs. Acqua & Sapone rider to complete a successful breakaway, Garzelli finished 2nd place behind Nieve (Euskatel-Euskadi) 1 minute 41 seconds adrift.
Garzelli leads the point Mountain Jersey with 62 points, can be ascertained Garzelli was the one who will reach Mountain giro d'italia Jersey this year.
Vicenzo Nibali who previously dietape 3 minutes adrift of Contador, have fallen in rank 3 GC with a gap of 5 minutes 11 seconds. After the Zoncolan Nibali manipulated Alberto Contador, this time Liquigas climber attempts to stage a sharp attack on the derivative 15, as known to a rider Vincenzo Nibali climber with riding skill diturunan extraordinary.
Usaha Nibali distage 15 akhirnya harus kandas, Scarphoni dan Contador mampu mengejarnya kembali ketika race kembali memasuki tanjakan.
Hari ini pembalap mendapatkan rest-day setelah menjalani tes trilogy mountain yang sangat berat, Stage 16 akan kembali dilajutkan pada hari selasa. Stage 16 merupakan etape individual time trial dengan rute tanjakan sejauh 12km dengan salah satu lintasan tanjakannya mencapai garadient 14%.
Race Result Giro d'Italia stag 15 Conegliano - Gardeccia-Val di Fassa 229km
1 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 7:27:14
2 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 0:01:41
3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:01:51
4 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:01:57
5 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:28
6 José Rujano Guillen (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 0:02:35
7 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:03:34
8 Joaquím Rodríguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team
9 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team Astana 0:04:01
10 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:04:13
General classification after stage 15
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 62:14:42
2 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:04:20
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:05:11
4 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:06:08
5 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:07:03
6 José Rujano Guillen (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 0:08:39
7 Denis Menchov (Rus) Geox-TMC 0:08:46
8 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team Astana 0:08:58
9 Joaquím Rodríguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 0:09:20
10 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Movistar Team 0:09:30
Points classification
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 133 pts
2 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 87
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 75
Mountains classification
1 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 62 pts
2 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 39
3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 38
Teams classification
1 Pro Team Astana 187:01:07
2 Movistar Team 0:03:40
3 AG2R La Mondiale 0:08:30
Euskatel-Euskadi rider Fight Back in Giro d'Italia 2011 Stage 15
Cavendish BACK TO BE THE FASTEST | RESULT GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 12
HTC Team Highroad Sprinter Mark Cavendish-second victory in 2011 Giro d'Italia stage 12 in the city of Ravenna.
Having previously at the first stage bearing the Cavendish feel Maglia Rosa Pink Jersey, then repeat with Cavendish won Stage 10 sprint through the perfect race.
Stage 12, which is a flat stage to finish in the city of Ravenna indeed belong to the Cavendish, but to be reckoned adalahnya dijajaran the new name before the sprinter is Davide Apollonio of Sky Team.
Although Apollonio only able to be placed 2nd behind the Cavendish, he still get an appreciation for being able to be in front of the Alle-Jet Compatriotnya Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD).
HTC distage victory is indeed feasible, because they continue to be in front of the platoon to pursue a breakaway group, without assistance from other team squad.
"The victory today is very important, my team had worked all day without any help at all from another squad and I want to thank them by giving the victory, no longer sprint dirace stage left, because I was very pleased with this victory." Cavendish said underlined the finish.
Alex Rasmussen and Mark Renshaw become leadman Cavendish this time, they were both really master the front row of the platoon, 200m before the finish Cavendish shot was overtaken again.
Maglia Rosa Pink Jersey is still in the hands Climber-Saxo Bank SunGard Alberto Contador, the stage - the next stage is a very severe stage known as "triloghy mountain. "
Stage 13.14 and 15 is very heavy mountain stage, Stage 13 finish ditanjakan Grossglockner category 1, stage 14 finish Monte Zoncolan ditanjakan category 1 and Stage 15 Gardeccia Val di Fassa re-finish ditanjakan category 1.
Jersey Contender will certainly fight for and defend Giro d'Italia Maglia Rosa 2011.
Result Giro d'Italia 2011 Stage 12
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad 4:17:25
2 Davide Appollonio (Ita) Sky Procycling
3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre - ISD
4 Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
5 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quickstep Cycling Team
6 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
7 Manuel Belletti (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox
8 Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
9 Mark Renshaw (Aus) HTC-Highroad
10 Manuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por) Team RadioShack
General classification after stage 12
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 44:55:16
2 Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) HTC-Highroad 0:00:59
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:01:21
4 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:01:28
5 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD
6 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:37
7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team Astana 0:01:41
8 Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Androni Giocattoli 0:01:47
9 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:02:21
10 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
Points classification
1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 96 pts
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 77
3 Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad 70
Teams classification
1 Pro Team Astana 134:10:05
2 Androni Giocattoli 0:00:15
3 Movistar Team 0:03:58
JOHN GADRET Grab GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 11 2011 | RESULTS GIRO D'ITALIA 2011 STAGE 11
John Gadret AG2R La Mondiale rider, managed to become the best in advanced Giro d'Italia cycling stage 11. Mountain Stage medium climber successfully controlled by the French origin.
Start from Tortoreto toward Castelfidardo with a total mileage 142km, making mindle mountain stage this time is the stage which is quite heavy for the participants.
Finish the ramp Castelfidardo presenting these ditanjakankan sprint. John Gadret distage looked very strong this time, caught up with Daniel Moreno (Katusha) along with 11 other drivers who do breakaway.
200 meters before the finish John decided to do a sprint and finish with a perfect finish 2nd place is the Spanish climber from Kathusha Joaquin Rodriguez.
Christophe Le Mevel (Garmin-Cervelo) is one racer that looks very aggressive, several times tried to attack with purpose to snatch the Pink Jersey from Alberto Contador, both closed to within 1 minute 28 seconds at Overal Classification.
Saxo bank Contador to exploit the performance of Le Mevel chasing breakaway groups, with these results Maglia Rosa Pink Jersey is still safe in the hands of Alberto Contador Velasco.
Stage 12 continued giro d'italia 2011 is the stage of super-flat (horizontal) Castelfidardo - Ravenna 184km, constraints encountered is the possibility of cross wind because the wind will be blowing hard, the race took place on the banks of the sea.
Here are results of Giro d'Italia 2011 Stage 11
1 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 3:33:11
2 Joaquim Rodríguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha
3 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Vini Farnese - Neri Sottoli
4 Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Androni Giocattoli
5 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank SunGard
6 Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Pro Team Astana
7 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Quickstep Cycling Team
8 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD
9 Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Team Movistar
10 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
General classification after stage 11
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank SunGard 40:37:51
2 Kanstantsin Sivtsov (BLR) HTC-Highroad 0:00:59
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:01:21
4 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:01:28
5 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD
6 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) 0:01:37 Team Movistar
7 Roman Kreuziger (CZE) 0:01:41 Astana Pro Team
8 Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) 0:01:47 Androni Giocattoli
9 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:02:21
10 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
Points classification
1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 80 pts
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) 77 SunGard Saxo Bank
3 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Team Garmin-Cervelo 59
Teams' classification
1 Pro Team Astana 121:17:50
2 Androni Giocattoli 0:00:15
3 Movistar Team 0:03:58
4-TMC Geox 0:08:29
MARK Cavendish FINALLY DID IT TO BE THE LEADING | RESULT GIRO D'ITALIA 2011 STAGE 10
The world's fastest sprinter Mark Cavendish, had proved himself still the fastest for the sprint race at the finish line, seteleh several times a stage flat giro d'italia rival Alessandro Petacchi belong, this time The Manx Man successfully defeating his rival with a win Stage 10 Giro d 'Italy 2011.
After getting a rest day today after a tough stage dietape mountain Etna, the drivers return to continue giro d'italia 2011. This time the stage is flat Stage 10, Start of Teramo Termoli menjunu with a total distance of 159km to be owned by HTC-Highroad sprinter Mark Cavendish.
Maglia Rosa Pink Jersey is still safe in the hands of Jersey Contender-Saxo Bank SunGard Alberto Contador, dilintasan competition which closed flat with a very tight race sprint occurred. Cavendish seems to be familiar with the style of Alle-Jet sprint Alessandro Petacchi. Cavendish utilize leadman from another team, when entering the 150m finish line Cavendish Petacchi stalking the rear wheels, it seems that this time he did not want to missed as the previous stage.
"I kept stalking Petacchi, I decided to stay behind, because I knew I could past it whenever I want, when entering the 150m finish line, I decided to start a sprint, and a satisfactory outcome today, " said Cavendish at the finish line.
Cavendish won easily distage kemenagan this time, Sprinter Movistar Jose Ventoso 2nd place finish, while Petacchi should finish 3rd place.
Giro d'italia 2011 entered Stage 11 which is a medium mountain stage, Tortoreto - Castelfidardo 142km. Finish ditanjakan Castelfidardo, competition between the climber will happen here again, the drivers who successfully make it well worth a breakaway distage taken into account.
The Power Of Alberto Contador - Tour de France 2009 stage 15
Alberto Contador kembali unjuk kekuatan di Tour de France 2009, stage ke 15 Tour de France yang berlangsung di Pontarlier - Verbier menempuh jarak 207.5km. Contador mampu menujukan bahwa dialah climber sejati Tour de France 2009, contador menyelesaikan etape 15 ini dengan catatan waktu lima jam tiga menit limapuluh delapan menit (5:03:58).
for more info click here
Denis Menchov win giro d'italia 2009
Russian rider Denis Menchov won the Tour of Italy in Rome Sunday, despite suffering a dramatic fall in the last kilometre of the final stage, a 14.4km time-trial.
The Rabobank cyclist, who is the third Russian to win the race, added the title to his two Tour of Spain victories in 2005 and 2007.
Final General classification
1 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 86:03:11
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:00:41
3 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:59
4 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:03:46
5 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:03:59
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:05:28
7 Stefano Garzelli (Ita|Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:08:43
8 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:10:01
9 Tadej Valjavec (Slo|AG2R La Mondiale) 0:11:13
10 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.) 0:11:28
for more info click here
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
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."
Ivanov win first stage of the Tour of Belgium - Tervuren, 185.4km
Tour Of Belgium Results
1 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha 4.17.35 (42.976 km/h)
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank
3 Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil
4 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Silence-Lotto
5 Cristiano Fumigalli (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia-Bossoni Docce
6 Tom Veelers (Ned) Skil-Shimano
7 David Deroo (Fra) Skil-Shimano
8 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step
9 Ben Hermans (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
10 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini
General classification Tour of Belgium
1 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha 4.17.25
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank 0.04
3 Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil
4 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Silence-Lotto 0.08
5 Cristiano Fumigalli (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia-Bossoni Docce 0.10
6 Tom Veelers (Ned) Skil-Shimano
7 David Deroo (Fra) Skil-Shimano
8 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step
9 Ben Hermans (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator 0.12
10 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini
"I felt like I was going to win. I was sure in the last 200m the wind was in my favor," said Ivanov, who last year took third overall. "This year I want to try to better my result from last year. I won the stage, so I am already happy, if I can win the whole race it would be fantastic."
The first attack went just 10 kilometres into the 185.4 out and back circuit. Ivanov's Katusha team worked to control the race as nine riders escaped with some dangerous riders present.
Greg Van Avermaet (Silence-Lotto), Kevin Van Impe (Quick Step), Rick Flange (Rabobank), David Deroo (Skill-Shimano), Johnny High Erland (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling), Martin Kohler (BMC Racing Team), Olivier Pardini (Willems Verandas) and Dieter Cappelle (Palmans Cras) and Sep Vanmarcke (Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht) never gained more than 25 seconds, and were caught 20km later.
The next break was more successful, and after the first intermediate sprint, won by Dutch champion Lars Boom, another move went. This time Brent Bookwalter (BMC Racing Team), Sep Vanmarcke (Jong Vlaanderen-Bauknecht) and Federico Canuti (CSF Group-Navigare) gained a maximum of seven minutes with 100km to go.
Vanmarcke took the second sprint as the trio's lead began to shrink rapidly under the pressure of the Katusha, Quick Step and Silence-Lotto teams. But as the gap fell to within a minute on the rugged run-in to the finish, the peloton began to split apart.
"There was a change in tactic because the final 50km are really hard," said Ivanov. "I spoke to Robbie [McEwen], and he said to try to do your own race. 30km before the finish we went faster and faster on the climbs."
Ivanov went with an attack of 14 riders which swallowed up the three men out front. The lead of the race was then Ivanov with three Silence Lotto riders, Jurgen Roelandts, Mickaël Delage and Michael Elijzen, two from Quick Step, Sébastien Rosseler and Maarten Wynants, three from Rabobank (Nick Nuyens, Stef Clement and Graeme Brown) as well as Cristiano Fumagalli (Ceramica Flaminia-Bossoni Docce), David Deroo and Albert Timmer (Skil-Shimano), Borut Bozic (Vacansoleil), Jan Bakelants and Ben Hermans (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator), with Bookwalter, Vanmarcke and Canuti.
"The group was good for me," Ivanov said. "Since I was alone for Katusha, I just stayed in the back and did less work than the others because many teams had more than one rider. I waited to see if our sprinters - Napolitano, McEwen and Steegmans - would catch us. 5km before the finish they were very close, and on the last little hill I thought I would go."
The peloton came close, but as the chase touched the tail end of the breakaway, Rosseler launched an attack and was followed by Ivanov. Roelandts, Brown, and one more rider. The Russian then dispatched his companions with one powerful move coming into the final kilometre, and held just enough of an advantage at the line to take the win and the first black leader's jersey of the 2009 Tour of Belgium.
ref[cyclingnews]
Satre Is Back Winner Giro d'italia stage 16 - Pergola - Monte Petrano 237KM
GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 16 RESULTS:
1 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 7.11.54
2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.25
3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 0.26
4 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 0.29
5 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 1.19
6 Francesco Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 1.21
7 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
8 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 2.11
9 José Rodolfo Serpa (Col) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni 2.35
10 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 2.51
11 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
General classification after stage 16
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 70.06.30
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 0.39
3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 2.19
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 3.08
5 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 3.19
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 3.21
7 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad 5.54
8 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 8.24
Carlos Sastre of the Cervélo Test Team won the monstrously hilly 237km Stage 16 from Pergola to Monte Petrano Monday, moving up to third overall in the 2009 Giro d'Italia.
Rabobank's Denis Menchov holds onto the leader's pink jersey going into the second rest day, finishing second ahead of LPR's Danilo Di Luca by 1 second, while Astana's Levi Leipheimer slipped back after finishing nearly three minutes behind Sastre. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) was fourth on the day.
Sastre, the 2008 Tour de France winner, sits third overall, 2:19 behind Menchov. Leipheimer is sixth.
Following tomorrow's second and final rest day, there's a brief opportunity for riders to get back into the swing of things, as the 83km Stage 17 from Chieti to Blockhaus heads to and then along the coast. From there, it's up all the way to the top of Blockhaus – to more than 2000m. Ivan Basso took the maglia rosa on this climb in 2006, but that day finished at the Lanciano pass, and that's at 1306m. Wednesday's blast goes right to the summit of the Blockhaus, where the last two kilometres are particularly testing.
ref[BR]
pic[cyclingnews]
Giro d'Italia Race Stage 13 Result Lido di Camaiore - Firenze 176KM
GIRO D'ITALIA RACE STAGE 13 RESULTS :
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr|Team Columbia - Highroad) 3:48:36
2 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini)
3 Allan Davis (Aus|Quick Step)
4 Robert Hunter (RSA|Barloworld)
5 Tyler Farrar (USA|Garmin - Slipstream)
6 Juan José Haedo (Arg|Team Saxo Bank)
7 Robert Forster (Ger|Team Milram)
8 Ben Swift (GBr|Team Katusha)
9 Davide Vigano (Ita|Fuji-Servetto)
10 Sébastien Hinault (Fra|AG2R La Mondiale)
General classification giro d'italia after stage 13
1 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 54:16:01
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:00:34
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:40
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:02:00
5 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:02:52
6 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:02:59
7 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:03:00
8 Gilberto Simoni (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) 0:04:38
9 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.) 0:05:26
10 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:05:53
Britain's Mark Cavendish won the Tour of Italy's 13th stage on Friday, his third stage win overall, with Russia's Denis Menchov retaining the leader's pink jersey.
Cavendish, who rides for the Columbia team, broke for the line with 300m to go and managed to hold off a challenge from Italy's Alessandro Petacchi to cross the line in first place. Australia's Allan Davis took third place ahead of Robert Hunter of South Africa
Rabobank rider Menchov held onto first place in the overall standings after a 176km stage through the Tuscan countryside that took place amid soaring temperatures and in front of huge crowds.
Cavendish, 24, beat Petacchi by a length and now has five Giro d'Italia stage successes to his name, having picked up two stage victories in last year's race.
"We'll see tonight [whether I continue]. I want to go on… I'll speak with my team. I want to try and stay for as long as possible, but I've got other objectives for the year," Cavendish said.
A few hours later, the team issued a statement.
"Stage 13 will be Cavendish’s last stage of the 2009 Giro d’Italia," it read. "He will head home today and begin his recovery and lead up to the Tour de France."
Germany's Björn Schröder led the first breakaway with Italy's Leonardo Scarselli and Russia's Mikhail Ignatiev just 12km after the start in Lido di Camaiore. Schröder led with 30km to go but was eventually reined in by the peloton 6km from home.
During the race, Italian former sprint-specialist Mario Cipollini managed to infiltrate the peloton for a few moments, according to Italian public television station RAI.
"The Giro passed right in front of my house, so I took the opportunity to say hello to a few friends," said the 2002 world champion, who won a record 42 stages in the race during his cycling career.
Giro d'italia stage 12 Result Sestri Levante - Riomaggiore (ITT) 61KM
GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 12 RESULTS :
1 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 1:34:29
2 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:20
3 Stefano Garzelli (Ita|Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:01:03
4 Janez Brajkovic (Slo|Astana) 0:01:14
5 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:27
6 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:01:57
7 Bradley Wiggins (GBr|Garmin - Slipstream) 0:01:59
8 Gabriele Bosisio (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:02:04
9 Jose Serpa (Col|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) 0:02:13
10 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.) 0:02:17
General classification giro d'italia after stage 12 :
1 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 50:27:17
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:00:34
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:40
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:02:00
5 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:02:52
6 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:02:58
7 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:03:00
8 Gilberto Simoni (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) 0:04:38
Russian Rabobank rider Denis Menchov won the 12th stage of the Tour of Italy in Riommaggiore on Thursday, a 60.6km individual time-trial, and took over the race lead from Danilo Di Luca.
Menchov completed the dramatic course overlooking the Ligurian Sea in a time of 1 hour, 34 minutes, 29 seconds, which was 20 seconds quicker than America's Levi Leipheimer in second.
Italy's Stefano Garzelli set the initial pace, eventually finishing third in 1:35:32, while Leipheimer's Astana team-mate Lance Armstrong took 13th place, 2 minutes, 26 seconds behind Menchov, propelling him to 12th in the overall standings.
Ivan Basso of Italy and Spain's Carlos Sastre, the reigning Tour de France champion, finished more than two minutes behind Menchov in 11th and 12th place respectively, while Basso's Liquigas team-mate and compatriot Franco Pellizotti took fifth place behind Slovenia's Janez Brajkovic of Astana.
"In this team, there is no hierarchy between Basso and me," said Pellizotti. "It's the journalists who have declared Basso leader. We're both leaders and the strategy remains the same."
Italy's Di Luca began the day with an advantage of 1 minute, 20 seconds over his pursuers but a sixth-fastest time of 1:36:23 saw him drop to second place overall behind Menchov.
"I'm happy," said Di Luca. "Menchov rode very well but I'm happy. I hope to take back the pink jersey as soon as possible. The Giro is open. Anything can still happen."
Menchov clocked an average speed of 38.4km/h on the steep, undulating course, securing his second stage win of the race after winning the fifth stage at the summit of the Alpe di Siusi.
The 31-year-old won the Tour of Spain in 2005 and 2007 and finished fifth in last year's Tour of Italy. He leads Di Luca by 34 seconds in the overall standings, with Leipheimer 40 seconds off the pace in third and Pellizotti 2 minutes back in fourth.
On this course, 20 seconds behind Menchov is not much," said Leipheimer. "I still think it's possible for me to win the Giro, even if we're missing (injured team-mate Chris) Horner."
ref[BR]
Giro d'italia Race stage 10 Result - Cuneo - Pinerolo 262KM
Giro d'Italia Stage 10 Result :
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 6:30:43
2 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:00:10
3 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank)
4 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team)
5 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:00:26
6 Mauricio Soler (Col|Barloworld) 0:00:29
7 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas)
8 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana)
9 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne)
10 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad)
Danilo Di Luca tightened his grip on the race leader's pink jersey by winning the 262km 10th stage of the Tour of Italy from Cuneo to Pinerolo on Tuesday.
Italy's 2007 champion, of the LPR team, attacked on the descent of the Pra Martino climb and left all his rivals in his wake to take his eighth Giro stage win in a little over six and a half hours.
Di Luca now holds an overall lead of 1 minute, 20 seconds on Russian Denis Menchov, the two-time Tour of Spain champion who rides for Rabobank.
Australian Michael Rogers of Columbia is third overall while American Levi Leipheimer of Astana is fourth ahead of Italy's 2006 champion Ivan Basso, who rides for Liquigas.
Basso's teammate, Franco Pellizotti, took second on the stage 10 seconds back with Menchov limiting his losses to finish third ahead of reigning Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre of Spain, of the Cervelo team.
Basso, Leipheimer and Rogers, who along with Menchov, Sastre and Di Luca are considered the main contenders for overall victory, finished 29 seconds back in the company of Lance Armstrong.
Sweden's Thomas Lövkvist, who began the day second overall, lost 1:39 to drop down the standings.
The 11th stage is a largely flat course over 214km from Turin to Arenzano, but it is Thursday's 60.6km time trial that will be preoccupying the minds of the pink jersey favourites on Wednesday.
Di Luca now holds an overall lead of 1 minute, 20 seconds on Russian Denis Menchov, the two-time Tour of Spain champion who rides for Rabobank.
Australian Michael Rogers of Columbia is third overall while American Levi Leipheimer of Astana is fourth ahead of Italy's 2006 champion Ivan Basso, who rides for Liquigas.
Basso's teammate, Franco Pellizotti, took second on the stage 10 seconds back with Menchov limiting his losses to finish third ahead of reigning Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre of Spain, of the Cervelo team.
Basso, Leipheimer and Rogers, who along with Menchov, Sastre and Di Luca are considered the main contenders for overall victory, finished 29 seconds back in the company of Lance Armstrong.
Sweden's Thomas Lövkvist, who began the day second overall, lost 1:39 to drop down the standings.
The 11th stage is a largely flat course over 214km from Turin to Arenzano, but it is Thursday's 60.6km time trial that will be preoccupying the minds of the pink jersey favourites on Wednesday.
"The difference came on the downhill. I knew this section as I'd been over it twice," said Di Luca afterwards.
Di Luca then sprung off on a final 1km bump in the road and pulled away to snatch his second victory of this year's Giro and, more importantly, extend his lead in the pink jersey competition.
In so doing he proved to be the most in-form rider at the moment but that form will be severely tested on Thursday when he will have a hard task holding onto his lead.
General classification after stage 10
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 44:00:11
2 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 0:01:20
3 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:01:33
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:01:40
5 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:53
6 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:01:54
7 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:02:03
8 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:02:12
9 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:02:35
10 Gilberto Simoni (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli)0:02:58
UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Round #3 Result
UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Round #3
DOWNHILL FINALS RESULTS
Elite men
1 Steve Peat (GBr|Santa Cruz Syndicate) 0:02:22.05
2 Gee Atherton (GBr|Animal Commencal) 0:00:00.02
3 Greg Minnaar (RSA|Santa Cruz Syndicate) 0:00:01.41
4 Mick Hannah (Aus|GT) 0:00:01.66
5 Justin Leov (NZl|Trek World Racing) 0:00:01.88
Elite women
1 Sabrina Jonnier (Fra|Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles) 0:02:41.58
2 Emmeline Ragot (Fra|Suspension Center) 0:00:03.87
3 Tracy Moseley (GBr|Trek World Racing) 0:00:03.89
4 Céline Gros (Fra|Morzine-Avoriaz 74) 0:00:06.19
5 Myriam Nicole (Fra) 0:00:06.83
Steve Peat stormed to his second World Cup downhill victory in a row yesterday, and in the process ensured his place in the record books.
The Brit's 17th podium top-spot means he has beaten the previous record for the highest number of World Cup wins set by his old arch rival Nicolas Vouilloz.
He also has a strong lead in the series, with a total of 645 points – 127 more than his nearest rival, Santa Cruz Syndicate team-mate Greg Minnaar.
Despite big black clouds overhead the rain stayed at bay throughout the racing in Vallnord, Andorra on Sunday and all the riders raced on a dry track.
Australian Mick Hannah (GT Bicycles) set a super-fast time early on and held the lead right up until number four seed Minnaar hit the track. Greg held a strong pace all the way down and posted a 2:23.46, just 0.25 seconds ahead of Hannah.
Next up was Peat, who attacked the course, putting in extra pedal strokes wherever possible, and unseated Minnaar by 1.41 seconds. World champion Gee Atherton (Animal Commencal) followed and crossed the line just 0.2 seconds behind.
Giro d'italia Race stage 9 Result - Milano Show 100 - 163KM
Giro d'Italia Stage 9 Result:
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr|Team Columbia - Highroad)
2 Allan Davis (Aus|Quick Step)
3 Tyler Farrar (USA|Garmin - Slipstream)
4 Matthew Goss (Aus|Team Saxo Bank)
5 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini)
6 Robert Foerster (Ger|Team Milram)
7 Robert Hunter (RSA|Barloworld)
8 Davide Vigano (Ita|Fuji-Servetto)
9 Saïd Haddou (Fra|BBox Bouygues Telecom)
10 Thomas Fothen (Ger|Team Milram)
British sprint king Mark Cavendish claimed his first victory of the centenary Tour of Italy on Sunday to hand his dominant Columbia team their fourth win of the race.
Cavendish's win followed hours of controversy which left race director Angelo Zomegnan fuming after the entire peloton stopped in their tracks six laps from the end to make a protest about unsatisfactory safety measures.
Zomegnan agreed, reluctantly, that the times from the stage would not count towards the race's general classification.
Italian Danilo Di Luca thus retained the race leader's pink jersey with his 13sec lead on Sweden's Thomas Lövkvist intact ahead of Monday's rest day.
Controversy hit Sunday's stage before the halfway mark when, after riding at a relatively slow speed of 33km/h, the entire bunch stopped with six of the ten laps to finish to publicise their protest.
Di Luca, of the LPR team, read out a statement apologising to the public but explaining the riders were unsatisfied with safety measures.
"For myself and a lot of other riders the circuit was dangerous," said the Italian, who admitted the decision had caused a split in the peloton.
"At the start we asked for, and got, a neutralisation of the times and for that I thank the organisers. But the sprinters weren't happy, that's why we stopped to explain things to the public."
The peloton resumed riding minutes later but continued at the same, slow pace until the closing stages when the pace slowly wound up to something resembling racing over the last four laps.
In the closing stages Quick Step sprinter Allan Davis had to battle with compatriot Matthew Goss, of the Saxo Bank team, to hang on to Cavendish's wheel in the home straight.
But in the end the lead-out work of Columbia teammates Edvald Boasson Hagen and Australian Mark Renshaw helped give Isle of Man rider Cavendish the edge as he came over the line to leave Davis in second.
It is Cavendish's first Giro win this year, and third in total after his two stage wins last year, although he came over the finish line first in the team time trial last Saturday to pull on the pink jersey.
"This is the stage I was really targeting," said Cavendish. "I messed up the first sprint (on stage two) but I've made up for it. There's a limited number of sprints in this year's Giro, so I wanted this one really badly."
Columbia's other stage wins came courtesy of Norwegian ace Hagen on Friday and Belarussian Kanstantsin Siutsou on Saturday.
Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi, the winner of stages two and three, came fifth while a second peloton that had given up all hope of victory came over the finish line over two minutes in arrears.
Di Luca, the 2007 champion, will go into Tuesday's 10th stage, a 262km ride in the Italian Alps from Cuneo to Pinerolo, wary of a number of close rivals.
Lövkvist's Columbia teammate Michael Rogers is third overall at 44sec with a quartet of bigger victory contenders - Levi Leipheimer, Denis Menchov, Ivan Basso and Carlos Sastre - all between 51sec and 1:24 in arrears.
General classification after stage 9
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini)
2 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:13
3 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:44
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:51
5 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 0:00:58
6 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:14
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:01:24
8 Christopher Horner (USA|Astana) 0:01:25
9 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:35
10 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:01:49
Giro d'italia Race stage 7 Result - Chiavenna, 244km
Giro d'italia Race stage 7 Result
STAGE 7 RESULTS
1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor|Team Columbia - Highroad) 5:56:53
2 Robert Hunter (RSA|Barloworld)
3 Pavel Brutt (Rus|Team Katusha)
4 Davide Viganò (Ita|Fuji-Servetto)
5 Alessandro Bertolini (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli)
6 Andriy Grivko (Ukr|ISD) 0:00:31
7 Matthew Goss (Aus|Team Saxo Bank) 0:00:40
8 Allan Davis (Aus|Quick Step)
9 Robert Forster (Ger|Team Milram)
10 Ben Swift (GBr|Team Katusha)
Hagen emerged the winner from a five-man late escape over the final 20 kilometres launched coming off the Passo Maloja climb to win the 244km rain-hit stage from Innsbruck as the race came back over the border from Austria.
The win, his first in Italy, was an early birthday present for the Norwegian, who turns 22 on Sunday.
South African Robert Hunter came in second ahead of Russian Pavel Brutt with Italians Davide Viganò and Alessandro Bertolini completing the top five on the day.
Already the winner of the Ghent-Wevelgem Classic this spring at the age of just 21, Hagen said: "Both victories, in Belgium and here in Italy, are very important and you can't really compare them.
"I'm just really happy to be winning. I had great support from the team because I knew they were blocking behind when the break went clear. I didn't start the final sprint too early, I tried waiting for as long as possible for the other guys to go. But I felt strong and it worked out well. It was dangerous on that last descent in the rain. I was lucky that I didn't crash," he added.
Bertolini had made a break going into the final handful of kilometres and established a one-minute lead on the nerve-wracking descent towards Chiavenna - but he was reined in before Hagen just stole it ahead of Brutt.
Four riders made an early move just outside Innsbruck as Mauro Facci, Bartosz Huzarski, Serguei Klimov and Vladimir Isaichev raced nine minutes clear by the 24km mark and they held on until the final climb as the rain made the conditions increasingly slippery.
Bertolini tried in vain to anticipate the sprint as Brutt and jockeyed for supremacy over the final dozen kilometres and made for the line.
Winner of last month's Ghent-Wevelgem race, Hagen scored his first Giro stage success just 24 hours after he placed second behind Michele Scarponi in the sixth stage to Mayrhofen im Zillertal.
Saturday's eighth stage is a 209 kilometre affair from Morbegno to Bergamo.
Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong's Astana team admitted on Friday they have been forced into desperate measures in a bid to publicise a never-ending financial dispute with their key sponsors.
Seven-time Tour de France winner Armstrong and his Astana teammates started the Tour of Italy's seventh stage with new shirts and the name of key sponsor, Astana, virtually blocked out.
Currently one of the most successful teams in the peloton, Astana face an uncertain future following reports their Kazakh sponsors have failed to pay team wages several times this year.
On Friday, Armstrong finished 58 seconds behind Hagen and now stands 25th overall, 4 minutes, 31 seconds off the lead.
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 28:08:48
2 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:05
3 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:36
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:43
5 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 0:00:50
6 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:06
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:01:16
8 Christopher Horner (USA|Astana) 0:01:17
9 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:27
10 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:01:41
ref[BR]
13 May Giro d'italia Race stage 6 Result - Bressanone/Brixen - Mayrhofen 248km
Giro d'italia Race stage 6 Result :
STAGE 6 RESULTS
1 Michele Scarponi (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) 5:49:55
2 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:32
3 Allan Davis (Aus|Quick Step)
4 Filippo Pozzato (Ita|Team Katusha)
5 Matthew Goss (Aus|Team Saxo Bank)
6 Philippe Gilbert (Bel|Silence-Lotto)
7 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.)
8 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:36
9 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini)
10 Tadej Valjavec (Slo|AG2R La Mondiale)
Michele Scarponi of the Diquigiovanni team soloed to victory on the sixth stage of the Tour of Italy to claim his first career win on the race Thursday.
Fellow Italian Danilo Di Luca, of LPR, retained the race leader's pink jersey after a 248 km ride in which a five-man breakaway provided much of the day's drama on what was a transitional stage into nearby Austria.
Di Luca, the 2007 champion, retained his five-second lead over second-placed Swede Thomas Lövkvist with his Columbian teammate Michael Rogers still in third at 36s.
A quartet of arguably more probable Giro winners - Levi Leipheimer, Denis Menchov, Ivan Basso and Carlos Sastre - sit in fourth to seventh places.
Scarponi was part of the earlier five-man escape group which formed around 50km into the stage, but for most of whom the stage's principal climb at Hochkrimml 50km from the finish line was their undoing.
Only Belarussian Vasik Kiryienka managed to stay with Scarponi on the ascent before dropping behind, apparently due to cramp.
Scarponi dug deep, went off on his own and managed to hold off a rapidly closing but tired peloton.
Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen of Columbia attacked the pursuers in the final kilometre to finish second at around 30s on the stage, thus picking up the bonus seconds that may otherwise have been snatched by rivals of his team.
It is Scarponi's first Giro stage win and comes only months after returning to the peloton following an 18-month ban for his implication in the Operation Puerto doping scandal.
America's Lance Armstrong will target a stage win in the Giro d'Italia after falling off the pace in the overall standings, race leader Di Luca claimed after Stage 6 on Thursday.
"You mustn't forget that he stopped competing for three years and fractured his collarbone a month and a half before the race," the Italian said.
"I saw the footage of the Alpe di Siusi stage (on Wednesday) on television and he gave everything," Di Luca added of the seven-time Tour de France winner. "He's doing his best, he's honouring the Giro. I think he'll focus on a stage victory."
Armstrong finished 73rd on Thursday and currently occupies 25th place overall, 4 minutes, 13 seconds behind Di Luca.
General classification after stage 6
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 22:11:15
2 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:05
3 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:36
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:43
5 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 0:00:50
6 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:06
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:01:16
8 Christopher Horner (USA|Astana) 0:01:17
9 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:27
10 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:01:41
ref[BR]
Giro d'italia Race stage 5 Result - Alpe di Siusi 125KM
Giro d'italia Race stage 5 Result :
STAGE 5 RESULTS
1 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 3:15:24
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:00:02
3 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:05
4 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas)
5 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:09
6 Christopher Horner (USA|Astana)
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:00:19
8 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:00:22
9 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad)
10 Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe|Fuji-Servetto)
Russian Denis Menchov won an uphill sprint to claim the fifth stage of the Tour of Italy over 125km from San Martino di Castrozza to Alpe di Siusi on Wednesday as second-placed Danilo Di Luca took the leader's pink jersey.
On a relatively short stage, that ended with a punishing 25km climb up to Alpe di Siusi, seven riders arrived at the final kilometre together with favourite Ivan Basso leading them.
Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre attacked first but Rabobank's Menchov surged past him with Di Luca of LPR struggling to keep his wheel.
Di Luca finished two seconds back but crucially three seconds ahead of third-placed Thomas Lövkvist, the pink jersey wearer on the day.
The Italian had only needed to make up two seconds on the Swede and coupled with the time bonus he received for finishing second, he did just enough to claim the leader's jersey by five seconds.
Record seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong suffered on the final climb and finished just under three minutes back.
The 37-year-old Texan admitted he wasn't expecting much more from the day.
"I'm definitely a little tired, it's a hard climb and we knew that we'd be behind," he told Rai TV. "We just said ride tempo and try to limit the losses. I thought it may be two minutes but it's closer to three minutes but I'm ok with that.
"I've always said the first half is not going to be mine, I've still not got my condition back after my accident and I can't expect to be at the front."
Armstrong was not the only one of the favourites to be dropped on the climb as Basso's Liquigas team set a furious pace.
Sylvester Szmyd did the most damage once the race entered the final 10km, the most punishing part of the climb.
Armstrong dropped off but so too did 2000 Tour of Italy winner Stefano Garzelli as well as 2004 champion Damiano Cunego and Maurizio Bruseghin.
When Szmyd dropped off with 4km left Basso took over the pace and he immediately thinned the field, with his own team-mate Franco Pellizotti among the victims.
With 2km to go the leaders were down to a select seven with Lövkvist starting to lose touch but with no-one willing to help Basso with the pace-setting, they slowed allowing Lövkvist to stay in touch.
Four more riders had also got within touching distance by the time the leaders reached the final kilometre. That sparked Sastre's attack but he simply could not match the burst put in by Menchov or Di Luca.
Basso finished fourth with Levi Leipheimer, Armstrong's Astana team-mate in fifth.
"It was hard, Ivan was strong but when Di Luca and Menchov (attacked) they can go so fast, I can't jump with Di Luca, he's very explosive," said Leipheimer, who is now fourth overall.
He also praised team-mate Armstrong, who broke his collar-bone in March at the Tour of Castilla e Leon and had been a doubt for the Giro.
"I think he's doing very well. I saw him two weeks ago and he's much better now, I think he's content."
Australian Michael Rogers finished ninth on the stage and is third overall while Basso is up to sixth on the general classification, one place behind Menchov and one ahead of Sastre.
General classification after stage 5 giro d'italia
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 16:20:44
2 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:05
3 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:36
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:43
5 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 0:00:50
6 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:06
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:01:16
8 Christopher Horner (USA|Astana) 0:01:17
9 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:27