Stage 15, a hot stage with temperatures around 33?, saw Italian Leonardo Bertagnolli of Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli take the win solo with a 54 second gap on the 161km route from Forli to Faenza. With an average speed of 37kmh, Bertagnolli was part of a 16 man brak away at the 30km mark.
With 40kmn to go, Ivan Basso lead a counter attack and took a number of riders with him though the lead group and chase group were falling apart. Bertagnolli kept his distance in front and despites effort to pull him in he took a convincing win.
Tomorrows stage from Pergola to Monte Petrano is 237km and includes lots of challenging climbs.
Top Ten Results on Stage 15
1 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli 4.18.34 (37.359km/h)
2 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Cervelo Test Team 0.54
3 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team Columbia – Highroad
4 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team Saxo Bank
5 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre – N.G.C. 0.56
6 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) ISD 1.27
7 Mauro Facci (Ita) Quick Step 1.49
8 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 1.51
9 Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Xacobeo Galicia
10 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step 1.56
General Classification after Stage 15
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 62.54.23
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 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre – N.G.C. 5.26
9 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 6.01
10 Thomas L?vkvist (Swe) Team Columbia – Highroad 6.26
