Maglia rosa rivals challenge in mass sprint at Giro

You wouldn't expect to see the two top contenders for the overall lead of the Giro d'Italia going at each other in front of a mass sprint.

But there was race leader Alexandre Vinokourov chasing down Cadel Evans in front of the pack in the last 500 yards of Stage 9 in Cava de Tirreni on Monday.

The usual lead-out train of HTC-Columbia had derailed in the last couple of miles, and Evans took advantage of this free-for-all by attempting to beat Vinokourov in the sprint and gain back some time on his 1:12 deficit.

Garmin-Transititions Tyler Farrar watched this develop and caught the back wheel of Vinokourov, then he attacked. Further on the left, however, Matthew Goss of HTC-Columbia pushed ahead of Farrar and won the stage.

By the book

Such a strange finale to a rainy day bike race that had gone pretty much by the book.

After a mountaintop finish at Monte Terminillo on Sunday, Giro organizers had scheduled a very flat 116-mile race from Frosinone to Cava de Tirreni on Monday to give the sprinters another chance at glory.

A four-man breakaway developed early in the day and survived until Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha) took off alone and Michael Barry (Sky) caught up to him. The peloton overtook them about 3 miles from the finishline.

Control

HTC-Columbia, working for its sprinters Andre Greipel and Goss, couldn't control the peloton, however. Garmin-Transitions, Quick Step and Team Sky all took their turns at the front. Rubens Bertogliati was first on the solo attack in the final half-mile but was passed by Evans who tried to gain a little time bonus on rival Vinokourov.

Interesting that an HTC-Columbia cyclist won the race after the team's usually precise lead-out efforts fell apart. Meanwhile, Farrar's finish put him in the lead for the lead sprinter's red jersey.

Stage 10 on Tuesday is a mostly downhill stage from Avellino to Bitonto for a distance of 142 miles.

Top 10 overall

1 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz, Astana )
2 Cadel Evans (Aus, BMC Racing Team) – 1:12 behind 
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita, Liquigas-Doimo) – 1:33
4. Ivan Basso (Ita. Liquigas-Doimo) – 1:51
5 Marco Pinotti (Ita, Team HTC – Columbia) – 2:17
6 Richie Porte (Aus, Team Saxo Bank) – 2:26
7 Vladimir Karpets (Rus, Team Katusha) – 2:34
8 Stefano Garzelli (Ita, Acqua & Sapone) – 2:47
9 Damiano Cunego (Ita, Lampre-Farnese Vini) – 3:08
10 Michele Scarponi (Ita, Androni Giocattoli) – 3:09