Rainy weather and slick pavement created some costly accidents in Monday's stage of the Giro d'Italia bike race, but it all worked out for German cyclist Stefan Schumacher.
The cyclist for Gerolsteiner won Stage 3 in the Belgian city of Namur after taking the lead in the final half-mile. His win gave him a 13-second lead over Paolo Savoldelli, the Discovery rider who had to give up the leader's pink jersey.
Schumacher beat another Discovery rider, Jose Rubiera, teammate Davide Rebellin, and Quick-Step's Paolo Bettini to take the stage, which included a steep cobblestone climb into the ancient fortified city.
Alessandro Petacchi, the Italian speedster with 19 stage wins to his credit, finished out of contention after a crash earlier in the race. Commentators at CyclingNews and VeloNews noted he was rubbing his knee as he rode.
Schumacher gained attention last month by winning last month's four-day Circuit de la Sarthe in France. At the end of the day, Savoldelli sat in 2nd place and teammate Tom Danielson was 11th, 37 seconds out.
Tuesday's 119-mile stage from Wanze to Hotton is the last in Belgium before the peloton resumes the Giro on its home turf of Italy.
More details and results at CyclingNews and VeloNews.
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