Robbie McEwen (Lotto) has won his second stage of the 2003 Giro. The Australian took a crash-marred sprint from Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) and Crescenzo d'Amore (Tenax) to win Stage 11, a flat, 222-km ride from Faenza to San Dona' di Piave, in 5:44:13. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) remains the maglia rosa.

The stage was ridden in the rain, and the early pace was pedestrian. At 36 km, Sergei Lelekin and Mirko Marini (both from Tenax) escaped. Their lead ballooned to more than 13 minutes at 80 km.

Fassa Bortolo began to chase. The Italian squad's pressure made itself felt as the escapees' lead dropped to 5:40 at 167 km and to 1:15 at 192 km. Four km later, the bunch reeled in the break.

A crash split the field in two. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) bridged up to the lead group. Saeco and Fassa Bortolo led the field. With two km left, Domina Vacanze took over at the front. McEwen had Mario Cipollini's (Domina Vacanze) wheel, while Petacchi and Isaac Galvez (Kelme) moved alongside of the Lion King.

Galvez crashed and took down Cipollini. McEwen powered into the lead. Petacchi outsprinted the bunch for second.

In the overall, Simoni leads Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) by 0:02 and Andrea Noe (Alessio) by 0:56. Stage 12 will be a standing shaker. The 185-km ride from San Dona' di Piave to Monte Zoncolan will feature three major climbs, including the finishing ascent. Who will prevail? Simoni? Casagrande? Garzelli? Check in at http://www.roadcycling.com/ and find out!

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