In the 172km mountainous 14th Stage of the Giro d’Italia from Campi Bisenzio to Bologna, Australian Simon Gerrans (Cerv?lo TestTeam) took a solo victory.
As part of a break away group, that the Peloton was unable to completely re-caupture, Gerrans was able to slip off the front and pushed hard through a very steep and curvey final two kilometres leaving Andriy Grivko (ISD) and Christopher Froome (Barloworld) behind and crossing with a 12 second lead on chaser Rubens Bertogliati (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) while Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre NGC) was a further 6 seconds behind.
With such a steep final stretch (16%) in San Luca, the riders crossed the finish line in dribs and drabs. No big changes in the General Classification although in Team Astana the roles were defined in a scene that saw Lance Armstrong play waterboy and drop back to the team car to pick up drinks for the team.
Top Ten Results on Stage 14
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Cervelo Test Team 4.16.48 (40.186 km/h)
2 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli 0.12
3 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre – N.G.C. 0.18
4 Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Team Katusha 0.24
5 Philip Deignan (Irl) Cervelo Test Team 0.27
6 Christopher Froome (GBr) Barloworld 0.36
7 Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse d’Epargne 0.41
8 Francesco Reda (Ita) Quick Step 1.01
9 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) ISD 1.04
10 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
General Classification after Stage 14
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 58.33.53
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes – Farnese Vini 0.34
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 0.43
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 2.00
5 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 2.52
6 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 3.03
7 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia – Highroad 3.05
8 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli 5.17
9 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre – N.G.C. 5.26
10 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 6.01
