Britain’s Chris Froome (Barloworld) placed a creditable seventh on today’s mountainous stage of the Settimana Ciclista Lombarda in Italy.

Froome was with the lead group as the race headed into the mountains for the first time, culminating in the tough Colle Maddalena. Italian Domenico Pozzovivo (CSF Group-Navigare) won the 159km stage.

Daniele Pietropolli (LPR Brakes) heads the overall classification of the race, having deposed team-mate Alessandro Petacchi at the top of the table. Froome’s Barloworld team-mate Mauricio Soler is in second spot overall, with Davide Rebellin (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) in third.

Although born in Kenya, Froome switched nationality to British (his grandparents come from Britain) at the start of the 2008 season. Earlier this year, Froome won the second challenge race in the Cape Argus Giro del Capo in South Africa.

The Settimana Ciclista Lombarda concludes tomorrow (Sunday) in Bergamo after another tough stage that may see Froome move up the overall classification.

RELATED LINKS
Friday’s international news round-up

EXTERNAL LINKS
Settimana Ciclista Lombarda: www.settimanaciclisticalombarda.com