Chalk up Alessandro Petacchi's third stage victory at the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday, credited to a textbook leadout by his team and a big crash at the finish line in Pinerolo.
Among the dozen or so riders going down on wet pavement were race leader Andrea Noe (Liquigas), who quickly got back on his bike and rode across the finish.
World champion Paolo Bettini also remounted to finish after going down, although the crash spoiled another attempt at a stage win.
Otherwise, the 123-mile 11th stage from Serravalle Scrivia to Pinerolo was largely uneventful, except for a 83-mile one-man breakaway by Cofidis cyclist Mickael Buffaz. Not only was it the only breakaway of the day, but it was remarkable because it didn't include a cyclist from the Tinkoff team.
Buffaz had more than 8 minutes on the peloton before it got serious about catching him.
The essentially flat stage was ideal for a sprint finish, and Milram had control of the peloton as it neared the finish. It might appear that Milram does most of the work for Petacchi, who notched his 22nd Giro victory, but “Ale-Jet” has to hold his own at the finish, as there are always challengers on his back wheel who will attempt to power past him.
One of those frequent hangers-on lately has been Thor Hushovd, who finished in fourth place Wednesday. The Norwegian sprinter for Credit Agricole has yet to convert his spot behind Petacchi into a win this year.
Robbie McEwen (Predictor-Lotto) finished third and Danilo Napolitano (Lampre) finish fifth; each has a stage win for this Giro.
Expect another shakeup in the overall leaders on Thursday as the Giro enters the Alps along the border with France. The 101-mile stage features two bid climbs — the Colle Dell'Agnello and Col D'Izoard before finishing in Briancon, France.
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