Italian cyclist Alessandro Petacchi dug deep to stay ahead of Mark Cavendish and other challengers in the final sprint to win Stage 7 on Friday at the Vuelta a Espana.
Petacchi's Lampre teammates controlled the front of the peloton over the last few miles into Orihuela, and 36-year-old sprinter paid off their efforts by winning by a bike-length over Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) and J.J. Haedo (Saxo Bank).
All the overall leaders finished intact, with Phillipe Gilbert still in the overall lead. American Tejay Van Garderen remains in 5th place.
It was Petacchi's first win in this year's Vuelta, but the 20th of his career. He won his first two Vuelta stages in 2000.
Doping
The Italian is continuing a resurgence that started in 2009, winning two stages of the Giro d'Italia that year and two stages of the Tour de France in 2010.
He was dogged by controversies in 2007 and 2008 over his use of an asthma drug. Although he asserted its overuse was accidental, the Court of Arbitration of Sport banned him after concluding he had not exercised “utmost caution.”
More doping allegations are catching up to Petacchi again this year, however, and he was only cleared to race shortly before the Vuelta. The Italian Olympic Committee questioned Petacchi before the Vuelta regarding a blood-doping investigation being made by a prosecutor in Padua.
Lampre controls
On Friday, a four-man breakaway led most of the 115-mile stage, but was caught on the outskirts of Orihuela. Lampre appeared to win its battle for control of the peloton and delivered Petacchi to front. In replays, it appeared that Cavendish might have been boxed in by Petacchi in front with the barriers on the right and Haedo charging on the left.
There will be no room for the sprinters on Saturday, as the Vuelta turns into mountainous terrain. The 117-mile route crosses one Category 3 and three Category 2 climbs before attacking the Category 1 Alto Xorret del Catí.
More results and details at CyclingNews.
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