Great start in the Giro. Winning the TTT, then Kittel showing he is the fastest sprinter and now 3 riders with the best GT contenders. Gesink will have very strong support to beat Anton.
One flat stage of 176 kilometres along the Adriatic coast between Altamura and Bari. That is what stage 5 is all about.
13km to go
It's a boring stage today. Nothing happens in the first 70 kilometres, and when a group of 5 riders forms a breakaway, the peloton never let them create a margin bigger than 3 minutes.
The sprinter teams have it all under control, and with 13km to go, Leonardo Duque (yep, him again), Jimmy Engoulvent, Jérémy Roy, Gavin Mannion and Carlos Betancourt get thanked for their efforts.
4km to go
The maglia rosa is doing the work! Thomas De Gendt is leading our sprint train (Flat 80), followed by Theo Bos & Marcel Kittel. Ben Swift is in the wheel of the German, followed by Borut Bozic and Grega Bole. Both Farrar and Goss are pretty far behind. Omega Pharma worked a lot in the chase, so their train got derailed because of no energy left...
1km to go
Ultimo kilometro! Theo Bos has launched his German team mate under the red banner. Ben Swift is still in Kittels wheel, while Tyler Farrar his on the right side of the road. The American was forced to start his sprint with over 2km to go, due to bad placening after his train couldn't stay in the lead.
Finish Marcel Kittel (daily form +1) can't shake off Swift and has to give the full 100% to stay in the lead. Swift comes close, but it's not enough to prevent the German in taking his 2nd (and our 3rd) stage win this Giro d'Italia.
Tyler Farrar finishes in 3rd place, and no time gaps occur.
Results
1
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Subway
3h53'38
2
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
3
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
4
Mark Renshaw
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Borut Božic
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
6
Andrea Guardini
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
7
Fabio Sabatini
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
8
Matthew Goss
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
9
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
10
Denis Galimzyanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
GC
No changes.
1
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Subway
18h46'20
2
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 4
3
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 12
4
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 1'01
5
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 1'03
6
Jack Bobridge
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 1'06
7
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'33
8
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 1'38
9
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 1'50
10
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 2'01
Points
1
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Subway
70
2
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
58
3
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
40
4
Matthew Goss
Lotto - Belisol
38
5
Leonardo Duque
Radio Shack - Nissan
37
KOTM, U25, Teams
No changes.
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Wow, we even managed to win a "normal" mass sprint! Amazing....
The 2nd pancake flat stage in a row brings the riders from Trani to Termoli.
Finish
This is the story of the race: breakaway creates a gap of a few minutes, we don't feel like chasing them as we've already got 3 stage wins and none of the breakaways is a threat for the maglia rosa, nd none of the other teams are willing to chase them. So all we do is setting a pace in the peloton that is high enough to not loose the GC-lead.
So 12 riders sprint for the stage win, and Wesley Sulzberger (Qantas) takes the win. He beats Jonas Aaen Jørgensen (Saxo) and Nikolas Maes (Lotto) in the sprint. Marcel Kittel, who else?, wins the sprint of the peloton for 13th place at 1'10.
Results
1
Wesley Sulzberger
Qantas Airways
3h39'14
2
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
3
Nikolas Maes
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
4
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
s.t.
5
Gianluca Mirenda
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
6
Claudio Corioni
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
7
Dennis Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Leif Hoste
Katusha Team
s.t.
9
Pablo Urtasun
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
10
Mikhail Ignatiev
Katusha Team
s.t.
...
13
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 1'10
Rankings
No changes in the rankings.
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Just a boring stage before tomorrow's mountain top finish.
nice race so far! haven't been following for a while but boy some changes have happened! Cadel to Katusha! Basso to Sky! Katusha got a team now don they! Great that you've kept it going this long i think its the longest I've ever seen! Thought you couldve chased that group down but if theres no GC changes then it doesn't really matter! Good to see an Australian get a win!
The first week of this Giro d'Italia will be closed with the first mountain stage. The riders have arrived in the Abbruzzo, and after some hills, they'll have to face the Passo della Maielletta. The climb is 14 kilometres long with an average gradient of 8% and peaks to 12%. The stage is short (118km) so the time limit will be a real threat to most of the non-climbers.
113km to go
The riders barely have left the neutralisation zone, when the first attack occurs. It's the French climber Pierre Rolland, who already lost 7'13 in the previous 6 stages. He hopes that more rider feel the urge to go on an adventerous trip today and will join him.
98km to go
I don't know if the riders don't like Rolland, or that none of them is willing to attack. But no one tries to join the Omega Pharma-rider, and he he arrives at the summit of the Valico di Rionero Sannitico with a margin of 6 minutes (in 15 kilometres!!!) to the peloton.
79km to go
The peloton for sure isn't interested in chasing Rolland and the gap increases to 10 minutes at the summit of the Colle Roccaraso. We didn't want to chase him before this point, as we want our 2 sprinters to finish safely inside the time limit, so we set a retty low pace in the first 2 climbs.
49km to go
We increase the pace a bit, and as a result, Rolland looses 1 full minute in 30 kilometres... He's still riding in virtual pink.
25km to go
Rolland slowly starts to fade a bit, as the peloton is closing the gap to 6'36 with 25km to go. In the ascend of the Colle Riga (2.9km at 8.5%), the first attack out of the peloton occurs: Francesco Masciarelli (Astana), David Arroyo (Movistar), Simon Spilak (Lampre) and Janez Brajkovic (Radio Shack) try to create a gap to the peloton. But as Brajkovic is pretty dangerous n the GC (16th at 2'43) both our team and Euskaltel don't want him to do so.
14km to go
In the descend towards the foot of the final climb, the 4 attackers get caught by the peloton. The Passo della Maielletta awaits. With a length of 14km at an average gradient of 8% towards an altitude of 1645 metres, it isn't the most difficult climb in this Giro, but the total amount of 3286 height metres in this stage will cause many gaps!
Because of the high pace that is set by Euskaltel and Monster Energy, the margin between leader Rolland and the peloton has decreased to 5'47.
12km to go
After 2 kilometres of climbing, Thiago Machado (Radio Shack) attacks. The Portuguese gets countered by Masciarelli, Arroyo, Siutsou and Bisolti. This occurs 5'08 behind Rolland.
9km to go
That attempt is pretty fruitless, and it lasts 3 more kilometres before the next attack. This time, it is more serious, as Astana's Mikel Nieve decides to give it a go. Robert Gesink recognizes the danger and, being helped by Francis De Greef he increases the pace. As a result, a gap occurs behind them. Still 4'05 behind Rolland.
7km to go
Igor Antón realizes he has missed the cut, and attacks out of the chasing group. But he has to bridge a gap of 40 seconds. Nieve and Gesink ride 3'35 behind Rolland, and with the margin decreasing this rapidly, things start to look bad for the French climber.
4km to go
It takes Antón 3 kilometres to close the gap and with 4km to go to the finish, the situation is as following: Rolland is in the lead, and 1'58 behind follow Gesink, Antón and Nieve. At 3'09 (1'11 behind the first chasing group!) rides a 2nd group with Rujano, Brajkovic, Ulissi, Scarponi, Kelderman, Basso, Evans, De Gendt, Sánchez, Le Mével, Plaza and Danielson.
2km to go
With Nieve already been dropped, Gesink increases the pace with the goal of to crack Antón. And with 2 kilometres to go, the Basque does crack! But because of this, the margin to Rolland becomes smaller, and it's now 1'01. The Frenc rider is struggling to keep the pace high enough to win the stage, but things begin to look really bad!
Nieve has already lost a minute to Gesink and a group with Kelderman, Rujano, Brajkovic, Scarponi and Ulissi is already 2 minutes behind him!
1km to go
In 1 kilometre time, Gesink manages to create a gap of '21 to Antón. And with only being '27 behind Rolland, the stage win is in sight! The group Scarponi-Kelderman follows 2'15 behind Rolland.
Finish
For a brief moment, Robert Gesink wonders if he should give the win to Rolland. But because he's without wins this season, he doesn't want to let this one slip away. So he outsprints the French and wins the 7th stage of the Giro d'Italia!
Igor Antón seems to be the only rider that can follow the Dutch in the climbs and finishes in 3rd at '34. Mikel Nieve crosses th eline in 4th at 1'50 and the group Brajkovic-Kelderman-Rujano-Ulissi-Scarponi at 2'02. Thomas De Gendt finishes in a group with Cadel Evans and Samuel Sánchez at 2'38 and looses his maglia rosa to team mate Gesink.
17 riders finish outside the time limit and have to leave the Giro. Most known names among them are Leif Hoste, Bert Grabsch and Julian Dean.
Results
1
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
3h31'03
2
Pierre Rolland
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
3
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 34
4
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
+ 1'50
5
Janez Brajkovič
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2'02
6
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
7
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
8
Diego Ulissi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
9
Michele Scarponi
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
10
Ivan Basso
Sky ProCycling
+ 2'38
Spoiler
11
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
12
Samuel Sánchez
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
13
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
s.t.
14
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
15
Tom Danielson
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
16
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
17
Tiago Machado
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 4'13
18
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
19
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
20
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
21
Chris Anker Sørensen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
22
Yury Trofimov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
23
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
24
Alessandro Bisolti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
25
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
26
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Generali
+ 4'45
27
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
28
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
29
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
30
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
s.t.
31
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Sky ProCycling
+ 7'20
32
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
33
Mauricio Alberto Ardila
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
34
Gorka Izagirre
Movistar Team
+ 8'13
35
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 8'23
36
Giovanni Visconti
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
37
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
38
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 8'34
39
Carlos Betancourt
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
40
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 8'46
41
Trent Lowe
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
42
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
s.t.
43
Luke Rowe
Qantas Airways
+ 9'04
44
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
45
Enrico Zen
Androni Giocattoli
+ 9'34
46
Omar Fraile
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 10'00
47
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
48
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
+ 10'42
49
Christian Vande Velde
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
50
Rubén Pérez
Movistar Team
s.t.
51
José Ángel Gómez Marchante
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 11'03
52
Jens Voigt
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 11'32
53
Laurens Ten Dam
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 11'45
54
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
+ 13'21
55
Christophe Riblon
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
56
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
57
Thomas Rohregger
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
58
Enrique Salgueiro
Movistar Team
s.t.
59
Matthew Lloyd
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
60
Andriy Grivko
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
61
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
62
Sébastien Joly
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
63
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
64
André Steensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 15'06
65
Nuno Ribeiro
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
66
Danny Pate
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
67
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
s.t.
68
Dalivier Ospina
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
69
Maciej Paterski
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
70
Cristiano Salerno
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
71
Riccardo Chiarini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
72
Leonardo Duque
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
73
Arkaitz Durán
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 16'45
74
Daniel Teklehaimanot
FDJ
s.t.
75
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
+ 17'56
76
Pietro Caucchioli
Lampre - Generali
+ 18'08
77
Grega Bole
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
78
Antonio D'Aniello
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
79
Simone Ponzi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
80
Juan Manuel Gárate
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
81
Emanuele Vona
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
82
Simon Clarke
Qantas Airways
s.t.
83
Grischa Niermann
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
84
Ivan Rovny
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
85
Fabio Taborre
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
86
Romain Zingle
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
87
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
88
Xavier Florencio
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
89
Timothy Duggan
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
90
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
91
Leonardo Moser
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
92
Paolo Bailetti
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
93
Jérémy Roy
FDJ
s.t.
94
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
95
Jan Bakelants
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
96
Mads Christensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
97
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
98
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 18'47
99
Matteo Montaguti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
100
Gavin Mannion
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
101
Fabian Wegmann
FDJ
s.t.
102
Matthew Goss
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
103
Jack Bobridge
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
104
Anthony Geslin
FDJ
+ 19'08
105
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 24'39
106
Stef Clement
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
107
Gianluca Mirenda
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
108
Mirco Lorenzetto
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
109
Anthony Roux
FDJ
s.t.
110
Daniele Bennati
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
111
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
112
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
113
Mikhail Ignatiev
Katusha Team
s.t.
114
Anthony Ravard
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
115
Ben Jacques-Maynes
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
116
Christian Murro
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
117
Marco Corti
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 36'41
118
Ian Bibby
Qantas Airways
s.t.
119
Markel Irizar
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
120
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
121
Alessandro Petacchi
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
122
Chad Beyer
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
123
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
124
Martin Kragh
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
125
Martin Reimer
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
126
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
127
René Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
128
Juraj Sagan
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
129
Fabio Sabatini
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
130
Daniel Kreutzfeldt
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
131
Dennis Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
132
Bjorn Selander
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
133
Óscar Freire
Movistar Team
s.t.
134
Maarten Wynants
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
135
Dominique Cornu
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
136
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
s.t.
137
Daniele Pietropolli
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
138
Vicente Reynès
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
139
Luca Celli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
140
Matteo Pelucchi
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
141
Nikolas Maes
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
142
Baden Cooke
Qantas Airways
s.t.
143
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
s.t.
144
Claudio Corioni
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
145
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
146
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
147
Andrea Guardini
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
148
Kristof Goddaert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
149
Maarten Neyens
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
150
Elia Favilli
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
151
Danilo Napolitano
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
152
Igor Abakoumov
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
153
Luca Solari
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
154
Borut Božic
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
155
Leonardo Giordani
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
156
William Bonnet
FDJ
s.t.
157
Wesley Sulzberger
Qantas Airways
s.t.
158
Mark Renshaw
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
159
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
160
Denis Galimzyanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
161
Pablo Urtasun
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
162
Filippo Bortolotti
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
163
Alexei Markov
Katusha Team
s.t.
164
Shawn Milne
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
165
Richard England
Qantas Airways
s.t.
166
Phil Zajicek
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
167
Takashi Miyazawa
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
168
Bert De Waele
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
169
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
170
Greg Henderson
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
171
Valentin Iglinskiy
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
172
Aidis Kruopis
Qantas Airways
s.t.
173
Marco Bandiera
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
174
Kris Boeckmans
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
175
Jimmy Engoulvent
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
176
Ruggero Marzoli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
177
William Clarke
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
178
Kyle Wamsley
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
179
Davide Appollonio
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
180
Leon Smit
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
GC
1
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
25h57'27
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2'19
3
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 2'34
4
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 2'58
5
Janez Brajkovič
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 5'05
6
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
+ 5'19
7
Tom Danielson
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 5'21
8
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
9
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 5'36
10
Diego Ulissi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
+ 5'48
12
Ivan Basso
Sky ProCycling
+ 5'54
13
Michele Scarponi
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 5'59
14
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
15
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 6'58
16
Pierre Rolland
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 7'11
17
Tiago Machado
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 7'16
18
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
+ 7'41
19
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
+ 7'45
20
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 7'59
21
Chris Anker Sørensen
BMC Racing Team
+ 8'17
22
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
+ 8'21
23
Samuel Sánchez
Lampre - Generali
+ 8'50
24
Yury Trofimov
Pro Team Astana
+ 10'13
25
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 11'07
26
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Generali
+ 11'20
27
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 11'21
28
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 11'35
29
Giovanni Visconti
BMC Racing Team
+ 11'38
30
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
+ 11'44
31
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
+ 12'03
32
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Sky ProCycling
+ 12'05
33
Alessandro Bisolti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 12'44
34
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 12'54
35
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 13'04
36
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 13'36
37
Jens Voigt
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 14'35
38
Enrico Zen
Androni Giocattoli
+ 15'00
39
Gorka Izagirre
Movistar Team
+ 15'12
40
José Ángel Gómez Marchante
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 15'34
41
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
+ 15'44
42
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 15'56
43
Rubén Pérez
Movistar Team
+ 16'25
44
Andriy Grivko
Pro Team Astana
+ 16'49
45
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 17'07
46
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 17'29
47
Christian Vande Velde
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 17'33
48
Trent Lowe
Sony Ericsson
+ 17'35
49
Leonardo Duque
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 17'40
50
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Pro Team Astana
+ 17'59
51
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
+ 18'52
52
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
+ 19'15
53
Mauricio Alberto Ardila
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 19'35
54
Carlos Betancourt
Acqua & Sapone
+ 19'39
55
Luke Rowe
Qantas Airways
+ 19'50
56
Christophe Riblon
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 19'52
57
Danny Pate
Sony Ericsson
+ 20'07
58
Jack Bobridge
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 20'13
59
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
+ 20'25
60
Enrique Salgueiro
Movistar Team
+ 20'33
61
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone
+ 20'38
62
Matthew Lloyd
Pro Team Astana
+ 20'39
63
Laurens Ten Dam
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 21'38
64
Grega Bole
Lampre - Generali
+ 21'48
65
Antonio D'Aniello
Androni Giocattoli
+ 22'05
66
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
+ 22'07
67
Sébastien Joly
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
68
Arkaitz Durán
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 22'11
69
Gavin Mannion
Sony Ericsson
+ 22'19
70
Matthew Goss
Lotto - Belisol
+ 22'34
71
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 22'42
72
Juan Manuel Gárate
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 23'22
73
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 23'24
74
Thomas Rohregger
Sony Ericsson
+ 23'36
75
Maciej Paterski
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 23'57
76
Nuno Ribeiro
Pro Team Astana
+ 24'34
77
Anthony Geslin
FDJ
+ 24'50
78
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
+ 24'52
79
Jan Bakelants
Lotto - Belisol
+ 24'54
80
Jérémy Roy
FDJ
+ 25'04
81
Fabio Taborre
Acqua & Sapone
+ 25'25
82
Simone Ponzi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 25'30
83
André Steensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 25'35
84
Matteo Montaguti
Androni Giocattoli
+ 25'39
85
Xavier Florencio
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 25'53
86
Romain Zingle
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 25'58
87
Simon Clarke
Qantas Airways
+ 26'12
88
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 26'37
89
Emanuele Vona
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 26'39
90
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 26'49
91
Riccardo Chiarini
Androni Giocattoli
+ 27'26
92
Pietro Caucchioli
Lampre - Generali
+ 27'30
93
Leonardo Moser
Androni Giocattoli
+ 27'38
94
Daniel Teklehaimanot
FDJ
+ 28'46
95
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 28'50
96
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 29'53
97
Gianluca Mirenda
Lampre - Generali
+ 30'02
98
Ivan Rovny
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 30'04
99
Mirco Lorenzetto
Androni Giocattoli
+ 30'06
100
Dalivier Ospina
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 30'15
101
Omar Fraile
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 31'36
102
Fabian Wegmann
FDJ
+ 31'42
103
Mikhail Ignatiev
Katusha Team
+ 31'56
104
Anthony Roux
FDJ
+ 33'04
105
Christian Murro
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 33'10
106
Stef Clement
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 33'17
107
Daniele Bennati
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 33'32
108
Grischa Niermann
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 33'58
109
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky ProCycling
+ 34'02
110
Paolo Bailetti
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 34'55
111
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
+ 36'35
112
Anthony Ravard
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 37'19
113
Daniele Pietropolli
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 40'26
114
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
+ 41'14
115
Nikolas Maes
Lotto - Belisol
+ 42'12
116
Cristiano Salerno
Androni Giocattoli
+ 42'25
117
Maarten Neyens
Lotto - Belisol
+ 42'44
118
Denis Galimzyanov
Katusha Team
+ 42'54
119
Maarten Wynants
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 43'09
120
Mark Renshaw
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 43'11
121
Luca Solari
Lampre - Generali
+ 43'13
122
Ben Jacques-Maynes
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
123
Claudio Corioni
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 43'46
124
Fabio Sabatini
Acqua & Sapone
+ 43'58
125
Danilo Napolitano
Acqua & Sapone
+ 44'02
126
Alexei Markov
Katusha Team
+ 44'07
127
Bert De Waele
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 44'32
128
Timothy Duggan
Sony Ericsson
+ 44'45
129
Andrea Guardini
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 45'12
130
Igor Abakoumov
Lotto - Belisol
+ 45'16
131
Wesley Sulzberger
Qantas Airways
+ 45'47
132
Alessandro Petacchi
BMC Racing Team
+ 45'50
133
Mads Christensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 46'13
134
Luca Celli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 46'14
135
Dennis Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 46'31
136
Dominique Cornu
Lotto - Belisol
+ 46'53
137
Borut Božic
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 47'03
138
Chad Beyer
BMC Racing Team
+ 47'22
139
Marco Corti
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
140
Baden Cooke
Qantas Airways
+ 47'27
141
Óscar Freire
Movistar Team
+ 47'59
142
Ruggero Marzoli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 48'17
143
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Generali
+ 48'44
144
Kristof Goddaert
Lotto - Belisol
+ 49'39
145
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
+ 49'41
146
Vicente Reynès
Lotto - Belisol
+ 49'52
147
Juraj Sagan
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 50'03
148
Martin Kragh
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 50'59
149
Jimmy Engoulvent
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 51'35
150
Pablo Urtasun
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 51'48
151
Elia Favilli
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 51'51
152
William Bonnet
FDJ
+ 52'01
153
Davide Appollonio
Sky ProCycling
+ 52'09
154
Shawn Milne
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
155
Valentin Iglinskiy
Pro Team Astana
+ 52'27
156
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 52'29
157
Ian Bibby
Qantas Airways
+ 52'39
158
Aidis Kruopis
Qantas Airways
+ 52'58
159
William Clarke
Sony Ericsson
+ 53'19
160
Daniel Kreutzfeldt
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 54'58
161
Richard England
Qantas Airways
+ 55'12
162
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
+ 55'22
163
Matteo Pelucchi
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 55'40
164
Markel Irizar
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 56'26
165
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
+ 56'33
166
Bjorn Selander
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
167
René Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 57'24
168
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 57'47
169
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
+ 59'09
170
Marco Bandiera
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 59'57
171
Greg Henderson
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h00'03
172
Kris Boeckmans
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 1h00'45
173
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h01'04
174
Kyle Wamsley
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 1h04'42
175
Takashi Miyazawa
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 1h07'23
176
Martin Reimer
Sony Ericsson
+ 1h08'38
177
Leonardo Giordani
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 1h10'03
178
Phil Zajicek
Sony Ericsson
+ 1h10'49
179
Filippo Bortolotti
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 1h24'59
180
Leon Smit
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1h29'27
Points
1
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Subway
73
2
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
64
3
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
47
4
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
41
5
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
40
KOTM
Rolland gets a consolation price, the KOTM-jersey.
1
Pierre Rolland
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
22
2
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
15
3
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
9
4
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Subway
8
5
Jérémy Roy
FDJ
5
U25
1
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
26h00'01
2
Diego Ulissi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 3'02
3
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 14'55
4
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
+ 16'41
5
Carlos Betancourt
Acqua & Sapone
+ 17'05
Teams
1
Monster Energy - Subway
76h02'45
2
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 8'38
3
Pro Team Astana
+ 10'10
4
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 10'12
5
Lampre - Generali
+ 14'42
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Some say that the Giro has already been decided, and that nobody can beat a Robert Gesink in this shape. But there are 14 stages to go, and Igor Antón is only 2 minutes behind. For the others, it will be very difficult to win this Giro.
And about the stage: great racing by the entire team, and an extremely strong Gesink to take the stage win!
After yesterday's tough mountain stage, the riders can take it pretty easy today. The 163 kilometres between Avezzano and Fiumicino are mostly downhill. Finish town Fiumicino is mostly known for the Roma-airport and is near the Tirrenic sea. Mass sprint number 3?
147km to go
Today, we want to do it differently. We want to have a rider in the BOTD, so we don't have to do any chasing work. Jack Bobridge is our man to do it, and he manages to be in the early BOTD of 13 riders, including riders as Francisco Ventoso, former stage winner Wesley Sulzberger and Anthony Roux.
Shortly before the summit of today's only categorized climb, the Valico Sante Marie, the 13 get caught by the peloton.
63km to go
But some of the 13 breakaways (Roux, Sulzberger and William Clarke (Sony Ericsson) manage to attack in the descend and form the next breakaway. Among them is our Aussie Bobridge. They get joined by Victor Reynès (Lotto), Gianluca Mirenda (Lampre), Stef Clement (Rabobank), Matteo Pelucchi (Nespresso) and Óscar Freire (Movistar). The 8 get the blessing from the peloton and create a maximum margin of 7'15. With 63km remaining the gap is still 5'05.
21km to go
The BOTD has arrived at the Tirrenic coast line. With the margin having decreases to 1'29 and being the worst sprinter of the 8, Jack Bobridge knows that there is only 1 option to win this stage: attack!
5km to go
Nobody of the 7 counters, and the Aussie quickly builds a ga of 1 minute. With 5 kilometres to go, ha has a margin of 1 minute to the 7, and 1'15 to the peloton. But the speed in the peloton has increased enourmosly, thanks to the domestiques of Tyler Farrar (Omega Pharma) and Ben Swift (Team Sky), and with Bobridge fighting against cramps, the margin is melting as snow for the sun.
1km to go
As we realize that Bobridge won't hold it untill the finish, we quickly set up our already famous train. Entering the last kilometre, when Theo Bos is about to launch Marcel Kittel, they are only 10 seconds behind the completely stalling Aussie.
Finish
And that's win number 3 for Marcel Kittel! Being absolutely dominant in this sprint, the German easily takes another sprint win, and again, he can thank Bos for a perfect lead out!
The battle for the 2nd place is more exciting, as Matthew Goss beats Andrea Guardini and Fabio Sabatinin in a photo finish. With Tyler Farrar only finishing in 5th, he looses valuable points against Kittel in the race for the maglia rosso. And Jack Bobridge? The poor Aussie finishes in 14th place.
Results
1
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Subway
3h50'19
2
Matthew Goss
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
3
Andrea Guardini
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
4
Fabio Sabatini
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
5
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
6
Denis Galimzyanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
7
Mark Renshaw
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
9
William Bonnet
FDJ
s.t.
10
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
GC, KOTM, U25, Teams
No changes.
Points
1
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Subway
98
2
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
76
3
Matthew Goss
Lotto - Belisol
59
4
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
48
5
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
47
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Poor Jack.... Some Monster-haters say that we didn't want him to win, as we took the lead of the peloton with 2.5km to go. But knowing that he was completely empty an he got assed with 600m to go, he would have lost it anyhow, even if we didn't took the lead. That's why. And after watching the replay of the last few kilometres, Jack completely agrees and says that we have done the right thing!
Good to see an Australian get a win! 
