Le Mevel goes on attack for Giro's pink jersey

Christophe Le Mevel was the only one of the top classification riders to try to gain time in today's Giro d'Italia leg to Castelfidardo. The Frenchman attacked leader Alberto Contador, gained enough time and held the virtual pink jersey.

"It was a great move, that's what bike racing is all about," Garmin-Cervélo team-mate, David Millar told Cycling Weekly. "Christophe's got panache, he showed that today."

Contador's group caught Le Mevel in the final 10 kilometres of the 144-kilometre run through Italy's Le Marche region.

"I really want this pink jersey but this pink jersey does not want me," Le Mevel told journalists. "I've come close. I've been trying every day."

Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) will take his turn in a sprint stage tomorrow to Ravenna and the overall favourites will fight for the lead in the next three mountain days.

"The days Contador and [Vincenzo] Nibali," added Le Mevel, "will be winning the jersey."

Le Mevel attacked from Contador's group at 64 kilometres to race and, in a group with 10 others, gained up to 2'00". He had started the day 1'19". Though he collected four seconds in an intermediate sprint, he lost 13 seconds on the final ramp into Castelfidardo - a net loss of nine seconds.

"Saxo Bank was happy to let me get the jersey," Le Mevel continued, "but the others behind are still fighting for the podium."

"That's our style of racing as a team at the moment," Millar added. "I want it to continue like that, I don't want us to just sit and follow, and race for places. He could have just as easily been in the pink jersey right now."

Millar rocketed out of the group yesterday in the final three kilometres and tried to join the escape today. However, he rode too fast into a corner while bridging and crashed on his right side.

"I was feeling great, flying, I was in every move at the beginning," Millar said. "Yesterday, too. Today, I covered everything, until the one that Christophe went in, but that was kind of how I wanted it."

He indicated his ribs hurt, did not believe they were fractured and may have them examined later. Team-mate Le Mevel will examine the overall standings tonight, which shows he slid to fourth, 1'28" behind Contador.

Giro d'Italia 2011: Latest news

Giro fines Contador for missing press conference

Cavendish responds to 'team car' accusations at Giro

Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 15)

Giro's Sicilian cyclists proud to face Mount Etna

Contador surprises at Giro with attack ahead of mountains

Contador minds food at Giro as CAS decision nears

Weening supported by Rabobank and model Kroes

Local lad Appollonio bears fruit in Fiuggi

Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 12 edition)

Blythe finding way in second Grand Tour

Leopard-Trek withdraws from Giro d'Italia

Leopard-Trek uncertain to continue in Giro

Tuesday's Giro stage in memory of Weylandt

Giro doctor describes actions to save Weylandt

Wouter Weylandt killed in Giro crash

Giro news shorts (May 8)

Cavendish likely to take Giro lead tomorrow

Giro 2011: Who will win?

Kennaugh to lead Team Sky in Giro's opening stage

Nibali's Giro fight with Contador may reach the courtroom

Riis defends Contador's participation in Giro

Cavendish set to start winning again at the Giro

Doping investigations force cyclists out of Giro d'Italia

Kennaugh replaces Pauwels in Sky's Giro line-up

Contador scouts out the Giro mountains

Cavendish and Millar top list of Giro-bound Brits

Lampre likely for Giro despite doping investigation

Giro announces record 23 teams to race

2011 Giro to start in Turin with team time trial

Giro goes one up on the Tour with spectacular route

Nygaard, Sciandri and Lloyd comment on 2011 Giro route

Nibali's Giro d'Italia?

Giro d'Italia 2011: Stage reports

Stage 11: Gadret grabs dramatic stage win

Stage 10: Cavendish opens his Giro account

Stage nine: Contador storms Etna to take Giro lead

Stage eight: Gatto springs late attack to take win

Stage seven: Neo-pro De Clercq wins by a whisker

Stage six: Ventoso steals Giro stage six win

Stage five: Weening holds on to take stage and maglia rosa

Stage four: Tearful Farrar and Leopard-Trek lead riders across stage four finish line

Stage three: Vicioso victory overshadowed by Weylandt crash

Stage two: Petacchi wins as Cavendish takes lead

Stage one: HTC-Highroad wins Giro's opening team time trial

Giro d'Italia 2011: Photo galleries

Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage four photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Giro d'Italia 2011: Live text coverage

Giro d'Italia stage 11 live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage seven live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage five live text updates

Follow the 2011 Giro d'Italia live with Cycling Weekly

Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list

Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list

Giro d'Italia 2011: TV schedule

Giro d'Italia 2011: British Eurosport TV schedule

Related links

Giro d'Italia 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index