Stefano Garzelli beat Gilberto Simoni in a sprint to win the 14th stage of the Tour of Italy on Saturday, while Danilo di Luca retained the overall lead.
Garzelli covered the 192km leg from Cantu to Bergamo in an unofficial time of four hours, 58 minutes and 34 seconds. Simoni was second in the same time and world champion Paolo Bettini was third.
”I’m extremely happy. I haven’t won a Giro stage since 2004 and it was a very tough stage,” said Garzelli, who won the Giro d’Italia in 2000.
Simoni gained 50 seconds on Di Luca, who crossed eighth.
The top four positions in the overall standings remained unchanged, while Simoni — a two-time Giro champion — moved up from eighth to fifth, 2:42 behind Di Luca.
”It was tougher than usual. We defended as well as possible,” Di Luca said, citing Simoni as his top challenger.
Several riders — including Simoni and Bettini — attacked on the first-category climb to Passo di San Marco, which began at the 86th kilometre.
Downhill specialist Paolo Savoldelli and Astana teammate Eddy Mazzoleni attacked on the highly technical descent and Garzelli tagged along, resulting in a seven-man lead group on the next climb to Dossena.
Andy Schleck, who is third overall, fell on the descent from Dossena but appeared unhurt and quickly rejoined the group with Di Luca.
The seven-man lead group with Bettini, Simoni, Savoldelli, Garzelli and Mazzoleni maintained about a one-minute lead on Di Luca’s group for most of the final 30km.
Simoni attacked on the final short climb to Bergamo over cobblestones and Garzelli caught him just before the finish line.
Stage 15 on Sunday is considered the Giro’s toughest, a 184km leg from Trento to Tre Cime di Lavaredo that includes three major climbs. — Sapa-AP