Pellizotti wins on Blockhaus, but Menchov remains in pink

Franco Pellizotti Giro 2009 stage 17

Giro d'Italia 2009 stage 17 photo gallery, by Graham Watson>>

Franco Pellizotti won the iconic stage of this year?s Giro d?Italia at Blockhaus to stake his claim for a place on the podium in Rome on Sunday.

The Liquigas rider climbed up to third overall as Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) failed to match the moves when they happened.

Further down the mountain Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) tried to shrug off the race leader Denis Menchov, but the Russian held firm until the finishing straight. The Rabobank rider just has to negotiate Friday?s stage to Vesuvius and the Giro d?Italia is his.

Di Luca was pipped to second place by Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone), but took third place to get the time bonus, and opened up a little gap over Menchov to cut his overall lead from 39 seconds to 26.

But Di Luca knows he will have to take much more time than that on Friday if he?s to have any chance of winning this Giro because Menchov will be the favourite in the final time trial in Rome.

Sastre and Levi Leipheimer (Astana) all lost time in the short, explosive stage, which was a stark contrast to Monday?s epic, but did more to shake up the overall picture.

The 83-kilometre stage got off to a flying start, with a ten-man move going clear on the flat roads before the climb.

Ruggero Marzoli and Giuseppe Palumbo (Acqua & Sapone), Felix Cardenas (Barloworld), Thomas Voeckler (BBOX Bouygues Telecom), Giovanni Visconti (ISD), Matteo Bono (Lampre), Riccardo Chiarini (LPR Brakes), Mauro Facci (Quick Step), Gonzalo Rabunal and Delio Fernandez (Xacobeo Galicia) got away but as the climb began to bite, they broke up.

The real action was saved for the final third of the climb. Liquigas played their first card when Sylvester Szymd attacked. Shortly afterwards Pellizotti followed and went clear by himself.

Lance Armstrong also attacked, leaving his Astana team-mate Levi Leipheimer to fend for himself. It was the final confirmation that Leipheimer?s podium chances were over.

Pellizotti pressed on and behind him Di Luca attacked, followed by Menchov and Stefano Garzelli.

At the finish Di Luca was denied second place, but the small gap he opened may give him a glimmer of hope that Menchov may crack if placed under enough pressure on Friday.

Ivan Basso climbed up to fourth place as Sastre slipped to fifth. Leipheimer stayed sixth but lost more time.

RESULTS
Stage 17: Chieti ? Blockhaus, 83km
1. Franco Pellizotti (Italy) Liquigas in 2-21-06

2. Stefano Garzelli (Italy) Acqua & Sapone at 42sec

3. Danilo Di Luca (Italy) LPR Brakes at 43sec

4. Denis Menchov (Russia) Rabobank at 48sec

5. Ivan Basso (Italy) Liquigas at 57sec

6. Marzio Bruseghin (Italy) Lampre at 1-54

7. Sylvester Szmyd (Poland) Liquigas at 1-55

8. Michael Rogers (Australia) Columbia-Highroad at 1-59

9. Carlos Sastre (Spain) Cervelo

10. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana at same time

Other

11. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana at same time

90. Charly Wegelius (GB) Silence-Lotto at 11-53

96. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Garmin-Slipstream at 11-53

106. Daniel Lloyd (GB) Cervelo at 16-45

135. Ian Stannard (GB) ISD at 16-45

138. Ben Swift (GB) Katusha at 16-45

161. Chris Froome (GB) Barloworld at 16-45

167. Jeremy Hunt (GB) Cervelo at 16-45

Overall classification after stage 17
1. Denis Menchov (Russia) Rabobank in 72-28-24

2. Danilo Di Luca (Italy) LPR Brakes at 26sec

3. Franco Pellizotti (Italy) Liquigas at 2-00

4. Ivan Basso (Italy) Liquigas at 3-28

5. Carlos Sastre (Spain) Cervelo at 3-30

6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana at 4-32

7. Michael Rogers (Australia) Columbia-Highroad at 7-05

8. Stefano Garzelli (Italy) Acqua & Sapone at 8-03

9. Tadej Valjavec (Slovakia) Ag2r at 9-58

10. Marzio Bruseghin (Italy) Lampre at 10-33

Other

12. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana at 12-17

33. Chris Froome (GB) Barloworld at 57-28

64. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Garmin-Slipstream at 1-55-11

95. Charly Wegelius (GB) Silence-Lotto at 2-36-31

122. Daniel Lloyd (GB) Cervelo at 3-05-16

129. Ben Swift (GB) Katusha at 3-11-28

159. Jeremy Hunt (GB) Cervelo at 3-47-24

161. Ian Stannard (GB) ISD at 3-48-11

Giro d'Italia 2009

Danilo Di Luca, Denis Menchov, Ivan Basso and Lance Armstrong

Giro d'Italia 2009

Franco Pellizotti on his way to a solo stage win

Giro d'Italia 2009

Lance Armstrong came tenth today, one ahead of team-mate Levi Leipheimer

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Find the pink jersey competition

Find the jerseys throughout the Giro and you could win a £400 Parker International voucher.

Giro d'Italia 2009

18 pink jerseys will be hidden around the Cycling Weekly and Parker International websites over the course of the three week race - all you have to do is decipher the clues at the end of the stage reports to find them.

Wednesday, May 27. Clue number 14:

Ogio, ogio, oi, oi oi. Go for a trip with this iconic rolling bag

Today's jersey is hidden on www.parker-international.co.uk

Full details of CW's find the pink jersey competition>>

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Giro d'Italia 2009 links

Stage reports

Giro rest day review (May 26)

Stage 16: Sastre wins stage to Monte Petrano

Stage 15: Bertagnolli gifted stage win by Cervelo mix-up

Stage 14: Gerrans solos to win

Stage 13: Cavendish takes his third Giro win and prepares to head home

Stage 12: Menchov storms to Giro TT win and race lead

Stage 11: Cavendish romps to second Giro stage win

Stage 10: Di Luca lays down the gauntlet

Giro rest day review (May 18)

Stage nine: Cavendish blitzes rivals to win in Milan

Stage eight: Siutsou makes it two in a row for Columbia-Highroad

Stage seven: Boasson Hagen takes treacherous stage

Stage six: Scarponi wins longest stage with big break

Stage five: Menchov wins mountain battle as Di Luca grabs the pink jersey

Stage four: Di Luca denies Soler on the line; Lovkvist takes pink jersey

Stage three: Cavendish loses pink jersey after being caught behind late crash

Stage two: Petacchi denies Cavendish the stage win

Stage one: Cavendish in pink as Columbia prove their point to Garmin

Photo galleries

Stage 17 photo gallery

Stage 16 photo gallery

Stage 15 photo gallery

Stage 14 photo gallery

Stage 13 photo gallery

Stage 12 photo gallery

Stage 11 photo gallery

Stage 10 photo gallery

Stage nine photo gallery

Stage eight photo gallery

Stage seven photo gallery

Stage six photo gallery

Stage five photo gallery

Stage four photo gallery

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one photo gallery

Desktop wallpaper photos

News

Di Luca out to topple Menchov on the Blockhaus

Bruyneel tips Menchov to win Giro

Giro Britannia: A long, hot slog in Italy

Leipheimer: Lance had to wait for me today (Stage 16)

Millar climbs off and heads home from Giro

Basso discovers he has few friends at the Giro (stage 15)

Froome agonisingly close to stage victory (stage 14)

Cavendish quits the Giro d'Italia

Cheeky Cipo sneaks a ride in the Giro

Cavendish: His most important Giro win yet (stage 13)

Comment: Lance vs the press, some things never change

Menchov's first pink jersey (Stage 12)

Wiggins: 'I went too hard at the start' (Stage 12 TT)

Lance and Levi: Ready for Giro time trial

Cavendish: 'Today brought back memories of San Remo' (stage 11)

Is Di Luca trying too hard, too soon?

Wiggins loses time in the Giro (stage 10)

Armstrong and Basso say sorry for Giro protest

How are the Giro favourites doing?

Cavendish says 'I'm addicted to winning'

Riders stage go-slow protest during Giro stage in Milan

Cavendish cool before Milan sprint

No sympathy for Armstrong from Giro boss

Boasson Hagen celebrates his birthday early

Cavendish overjoyed for Boasson Hagen

Armstrong 'livid' at dangerous Giro stage

Astana riders wear faded kit in protest over unpaid wages

Armstrong sees Leipheimer in pink

Giro news round-up: 14 May

Wiggins: 'I can't keep smashing away on the climbs'

Wiggins eyes top 20 finish overall

Armstrong after Giro stage 5: 'That was hard'

Cavendish looking for Giro revenge

Armstrong happy with stage four performance

Lovkvist will fight to keep Giro lead

Giro could be last race for Armstrong's team

Vande Velde crashes out of Giro

Petacchi claims he didn't know of Cavendish crash

Cavendish struggles to find consolation in pink jersey

Petacchi: I've been working out how to beat Cav

I'm wearing pink on behalf of the team, says Cavendish

Wiggins ready to win Giro team time trial

Friday, May 8: Giro news round-up

Cavendish out to topple Garmin in Giro team time trial

Team time trial start times

Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia top ten prediction

Brits in Venice for Giro presentation

Armstrong overshadows overall favourites at Giro presentation

Armstrong confident of finding new sponsor for Astana

Armstrong working to save Astana team

Wiggins in top form for Giro

Garmin Slipstream kitted out for Giro opener

Dan Lloyd gets late Giro call-up

Armstrong's special Giro bikes unveiled

Daniel Lloyd overlooked for Giro ride

Cummings and Thomas not selected for Giro d'Italia

Cavendish tests Giro form at Tour of Romandie

David Millar confirms he's riding in 2009 Giro

Bennati to take on Cavendish in Giro 2009 sprints

2009 Giro d'Italia to start in Venice

Evans and Silence-Lotto disagree on Giro 2009 ride

Armstrong to ride 2009 Giro

Tuttosport reveals 2009 Giro d'Italia route

Dolce & Gabbana design new Giro jersey

2009 Giro d'Italia guide and features

Find the pink jersey competition

Giro d'Italia 2009: The Big Preview

British riders to have led the grand tours

CW's Giro top ten prediction

Brits in the Giro 2009

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish

CW Classic: the 1987 Giro d'Italia

2008 Giro d'Italia archive

Giro d'Italia 2008 coverage index - race reports, photos, results

From rule Britannia to cruel Britannia

Giro 2008: The final word on this year's race

Brits at the 2008 Giro: photo special

Five days to go, what's in store?

Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 27)

Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 19)

Giro d'Italia 2008 preview

Follow Cycling Weekly on Twitter>>

image

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.