Pozzovivo Wins Stage 8 of Giro
For the second consecutive day, an Italian has won a stage of the Giro d'Italia.
For the second consecutive day, an Italian has won a stage of the Giro d'Italia. Today, Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-CSF Inox) did the honors (Watch video highlights - U.S. only). Pozzovivo surged away from the lead group in the last 7 km to win the hilly, 229-km ride from Sulmona to Lago Lacero in 6:06:05. Benat Intxausti (Movistar) finished second at 0:23, and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) won the sprint for third at 0:27. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barricuda) remains the maglia rosa.
Today's stage featured two categorized climbs along with numerous uncategorized ascents. After 30 km, Andrey Amador (Movistar), Julien Berard (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Tomasz Marczynski (Vacansoleil-DCM), and Miguel Minguez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) sallied off of the front. The quartet forged an 11-minute lead.
With about 70 km left, Marczynski accelerated, and Berard and Minguez were dropped. In the last 35 km, Katusha began to drive the peloton. Eighteen km later, the break was reeled in.
Astana led the field onto the Colle Molella, the day's final climb, and Liquigas-Cannondale took over the pacemaking from the Kazakh squad. With 7 km left, Pozzovivo burst out of the lead group. Intxausti lit out after the Italian, but Pozzovivo built a 30-second lead and kept most of it. Behind, Hesjedal struggled on the climb but kept the maglia rosa.
In the overall, Hesjedal leads Rodriguez by 0:09 and Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) by 0:15. Stage 9 should not change the standings. The 166-km run from San Giorgio del Sannio to Frosinone will be flat and tailor-made for a sprint finish. Who will win? Mark Cavendish (Sky)? Matthew Goss (Orica-GreenEdge)? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!
