Rodriguez wins stage to consolidate Giro lead

Giro d'Italia 2012 stage 17 photo gallery by Graham Watson>>

Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) sprinted to his second stage win at this years Giro d'Italia to keep hold of his pink jersey with just four stages remaining. 

The Spaniard pipped Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) after a select group of six overall favourites broke clear on the final climb of the day, the Passo Giau, and stayed away on the final 18km downhill to the finish. 

Rodriguez kept hold of his pink leader's jersey but, with no time bonuses on offer today, was unable to extend his 30 second lead over Hesjedal. 

Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD), Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-CSF-Inox) and Rigoberto Uran (Sky) rounded off the group of leading finishers which, having crossed the line over 1 minute 20 ahead of the their rivals, now looks to be the group from which the overall podium will be picked. 

Uran was the second winner of the day, climbing from  11th to fifth overall in the general classification and taking over the white jersey of best young rider from countryman and team-mate Sergio Henao.

Favourites whittled down

With four categorised climbs, today's stage always threatened to mix up the leaderboard. After the break of Kevin Seeldrayers (Astana), Branislau Samoilau

(Movistar), Jose Serpa (Androni-Giocattoli), Matteo Montaguti

(Ag2r-La Mondiale) and last Sunday's hero Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini) was caught on the penultimate Forcella Staulanza, the task fell to Basso's Liquigas team to force the separation. 

Indeed the speed on the bleak gradients of the Passo Giau gradually proved too much for the likes of Roman Kreuziger (Astana) and John Gadret (Ag2r). As Basso gritted his teeth and turned up the temperature past the snow banks of the Dolomites, only five others could stand the heat.

Rodriguez may have won the battle of the favourites but with Hesjedal in second place just 30 seconds behind, he and his fellow climbing specialists will seek more time on the time-trial ready Canadian on the final two mountain stages on Friday and Saturday.

Mark Cavendish (Sky) also finished in time to keep hold of the red points jersey but with just one sprint stage remaining and Rodriguez close behind in the competition, he'll have to work hard to keep hold of it to Milan.

Results

Giro d'Italia 2012, stage 17: Falzes to Cortina d'Ampezzo, 187km

1. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha

2. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale

3. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda

4. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Sky

5. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at same time

6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago-CSF-Inox at 2 secs

7. Benat Inxausti (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 1-22

8. Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha

9. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM

10. Johann Tschopp (Swi) BMC Racing at same time

Other

107. Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky at 34-05

119. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky at 34-05

123. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky at 38-26

DNF Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Sky

Overall classification after stage 17

1. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha in 74-46-46

2. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda at 30 secs

3. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 1-22

4. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 1-36

5. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Sky at 2-56

6. Benat Inxausti (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 3-04

7. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago-CSF-Inox at 3-19

8. Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) at 4-13

9. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM at 4-38

10. Sergio Henao (Col) Sky at 4-42

Other

78. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky at 1-53-41

142. Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky at 3-07-21

151. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky at 3-22-43

Riders hit the Dolomites

Ivan Basso heads the escape

Joaquin Rodriguez wins ahead of Ivan Basso and Ryder Hesjedal

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Giro d'Italia 2012: Live coverage

Giro d'Italia 2012 live text coverage and schedule

Giro d'Italai 2012 stage 13 live text coverage

Giro d'Italia 2012 stage 12 live text coverage

Giro d'Italia 2012 stage 10 live text coverage

Giro d'Italia 2012 stage six live text coverage

Giro d'Italia 2012 stage four live text coverage

Giro d'Italia 2012: Stage reports

Stage 17: Rodriguez wins stage to consolidate lead

Stage 16: Izagirre claims Basque breakaway victory

Stage 15: Rabottini takes tough win in Giro

Stage 14: Amador wins Giro's first high mountain stage as Hesjedal reclaims lead

Stage 13: Cavendish makes it three

Stage 12: Bak attacks to win

Stage 11: Ferrari wins Giro stage on ride to redemption

Stage 10: Rodriguez wins thrilling finale to take leadStage nine: Ventoso wins in Frosinone as Goss and Cavendish fall

Stage eight: Pozzovivo takes another Giro win

Stage seven: Hesjedal moves into Giro lead

Stage six: Rubiano solos to epic Giro stage win

Stage five: Cavendish bounces back for another stage win

Stage four: Garmin-Barracuda win TTT to take lead

Stage three: Goss wins in Horsens as Cavendish and Phinney crash

Stage two: Cavendish wins in Herning

Stage one: Phinney wins time trial

Giro d'Italia 2012: 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

Giro d'Italia 2012: Blogs

Charly Wegelius' Giro blog: Conserving energy for the final week

Charly Wegelius' Giro blog: Holding on to the lead

Charly Wegelius' Giro blog: Getting the team time trial right

Giro moto blog: Hurray for rest day

Giro moto blog: Stage 10

Giro d'Italia 2012: Teams and riders

Giro d'Italia 2012 start list

Giro d'Italia 2012: TV guide

Giro d'Italia 2012: British Eurosport TV schedule

Related links

Giro d'Italia 2012: The Big Preview

Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia section