THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING
Bennati takes a close win at Giro
Liquigas's Daniele Bennati won Thursday's 12th stage of the Giro d’Italia, winning a furious sprint by the narrowest of margins over Mark Cavendish (High Road) at the end of a 172-kilometer race from Forli to Carpi.
Quick Step's Giovanni Visconti finished in the main field and kept the the maglia rosa of the overall race leader.
A photo-finish was required to separate Bennati, whose stage win was his third on the Giro, and Cavendish, who shot through to the finishing line. Third place was taken by Australian Robbie McEwen who shadowed Bennati without being able to overtake him.
"This is the first time I have won by three centimeters, but I have lost by that margin once before,” Bennati said. "It was also the first time I had led a sprint for such a long way and it was a risk because I was vulnerable to those behind me, who had me in their sights."
Bennati came out in front at the last corner and sprint the final 200 meters for his third stage win after those in Milazzo (Stage 2) and San Vincenzo (Stage 9).
"At the line, I was calm about things and I thought I had lost to Cavendish,” Bennati added. "Cavendish is a real sprinter in the final 150 meters with amazing explosive power."
Euskaltel-Euskadi's Dionisio Galparsoro, who began the day in 142nd place on GC, led a long solo breakaway from the start, building up a 14-minute advance on the peloton. But he was reeled back in with 10km to go.
Visconti kept the jersey and the entire field earned the same time as the stage winner after officials declared that official finishing times would be calculated three kilometers from the line. The decision was triggered by a cloudburst and narrow, winding roads that marked the final few kilometers into Carpi. As a result, riders were credited with having finished at the 169km mark, although the sprint itself was decided three kilometers later at the original finish line.
When asked about how he compared with great sprinters such as Mario Cipollini and Alessandro Petacchi, Bennati dismissed the comparison.
"I'm not like those two because I have only won three stages while they have won so many,” he said. "But I think I am a good guy and have won three of the four sprints since the start of the race."
Visconti revealed he was not feeling great after falling in Wednesday's stage about 30 kilometers from the finish.
"I'm in pain all over my body after my fall," Visconti said. "I didn't sleep at all last night and during the stage I went to see the race doctor. Every time I went over a bump I had pain in my wrist and, though it's not broken, perhaps I will go and have some new x-rays."
Visconti leads overall by 5:50 from compatriot Gabriele Bosisio and by 6:59 from reigning Tour de France champion Alberto Contador (Astana).
Race doctors also announced that stage six winner Matteo Priamo (Lampre) had fractured his right elbow in a fall about 15 kilometers from the finishing line of Thursday's stage.
Friday's 13th stage sees the riders tackle a 177km run between Modena and Cittadella, another potential sprinters’ stage before the Giro heads to the mountains on Saturday.
Results, Stage 12
1. Daniele Bennati (ITA), Liquigas, 169km in 4:05:29
2. Mark Cavendish (GBR), Team High Road, s.t.
3. Robbie Mcewen (AUS), Silence-Lotto, s.t.
4. Koldo Fernandez (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi, s.t.
5. Paolo Bettini (ITA), Quick Step, s.t.
6. Robert Forster (GER), Gerolsteiner, s.t.
7. Luciano Pagliarini (BRA), Saunier Duval, s.t.
8. Assan Bazayev (KAZ), Astana, s.t.
9. Alexandre Usov (BLR), Ag2r La Mondiale, s.t.
10. Alexander Serov (RUS), Tinkoff, s.t.
Overall, after Stage 12
1. Giovanni Visconti (ITA), Quick Step in 53:05:46
2. Gabriele Bosisio (ITA), Team L.P.R., at 5:50
3. Alberto Contador (ESP), Astana, at 6:59
4. Marzio Bruseghin (ITA), Lampre, at 7:52
5. Andreas Kloden (GER), Astana, at 7:54
6. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA), Liquigas, at 8:04
7. Paolo Savoldelli (ITA), Team L.P.R., at 8:09
8. Riccardo Ricco' (ITA), Saunier Duval, at 8:32
9. Danilo Di Luca (ITA), Team L.P.R., at 8:33
10. Erik Larsson Gustav (SWE), CSC, s.t.
