Stage 17 Falzes/Pfalzen – Cortina d’Ampezzo 187km

Етапите на титаните започнаха.
Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) заздрави лидерската позиция и с етапна победа в един от най-тежките етапи в тазгодишното Giro.
Испанецът беше част от 25 колоездачи, сред които се намираха и всички претенденти за розовата фланелка: Ivan Basso (Liquigas Cannondale), Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda), Rigoberto Uran (Sky), Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD), Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-CSF)… Финалът не беше поднесен на тепсия на испанеца, а трябваше да си го изкатери в люта битка с Basso, Hesjedal, Uran, Scarponi и Pozzovivo, които спретнаха истинско спринтово зрелище. Cortina d’Ampezzo пръв покори Rodriguez, който с някоя и друга съхранена сила след четирите тежки височини и особено след последната, изригна в решителна атака от най-крайна позиция във финалната шесторка.
Ryder Hesjedal финишира трети, но в генералното запази втората позиция на 30″.
Ivan Basso въпреки силното представяне на финала, остава трети на 1’22“.
Michele Scarponi е свъвсем близо до него на 1’36“.
Пети но сравнително по-изостанал във времето е Rigoberto Uran Uran 2’56“.
***
Titan’s stages has began.
Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) reinforced his leadership with a win in one of the toughest stages in this year’s Giro. The Spaniard was in a group of 25 riders including all main rivels: Ivan Basso (Liquigas Cannondale), Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda), Rigoberto Uran (Sky), Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD), Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-CSF)… The finale wasn’t just handed on a plate to the Spaniard, he fought for it in severe battle with Basso, Hesjedal, Uran, Scarponi and Pozzovivo, executing a true sprinting spectacle. First to claim Cortina d’Ampezzo was Rodriguez, bursting in an attack from the back of the group, finding some additional strengh after four categorized climb.
Ryder Hesjedal finished third, but in general classification is still second at 0:30.
Ivan Basso, although, his powerfull performance in the stage, is third overall at 1:22.
Close behind him is Michele Scarponi at 1:36.
Fifth, but with bigger gap is Rigoberto Uran – 2:56.

1 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 5:24:42
2 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
3 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin – Barracuda
4 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling
5 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre – ISD
6 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago – CSF Inox 0:00:02
7 Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:22
8 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha Team
9 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
10 Johann Tschopp (Swi) BMC Racing Team
11 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
12 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
13 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre – ISD
14 Sergio Pardilla Bellon (Spa) Movistar Team
15 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Colnago – CSF Inox 0:01:44
16 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Movistar Team 0:02:13
17 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:02:47
18 Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling
19 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
20 Francesco Failli (Ita) Farnese Vini – Selle Italia 0:02:51

General classification after stage 17
Result
1 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 74:46:46
2 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin – Barracuda 0:00:30
3 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:01:22
4 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre – ISD 0:01:36
5 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling 0:02:56
6 Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team 0:03:04
7 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago – CSF Inox 0:03:19
8 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:04:13
9 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:04:38
10 Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling 0:04:42
11 Johann Tschopp (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:04:46
12 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
13 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha Team 0:04:55
14 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quickstep 0:04:59
15 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre – ISD 0:05:07
16 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:05:42
17 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Colnago – CSF Inox 0:06:29
18 Sergio Pardilla Bellon (Spa) Movistar Team 0:06:53
19 Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 0:12:25
20 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team 0:12:53

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Photo: official site of Katusha http://www.katushateam.com