2010 Giro d'Italia, Stage 13 Results

Cesenatico, 21 May 2010: This is a great Giro d Italia, everyday is full of surprises.

The Giro d'Italia is every Italian racer's dream, and today local boy Manuel Belletti (Colnago-CSF) fulfilled his dream by winning the 223 km Porto Recanti-Cesenatico stage dedicated to Marco Pantani. At the finish, with Belletti in tears, the compliments from Pantani's father. It was because of the feats of Pantani that Belletti took up cycling.

"This is the best day of my life, the final kilometre was infinite. At one point Lewis had a 150 meter lead. I thought I was a goner. It (the sprint) was indescribable. I really suffered to get here. The tendins in my knee hurt ever since Terminillo. If I gritted my teeth, I only did it so I could be here."

Richie Porte retained the pink jersey.

The peloton heads into the mountians for the final week and Monte Grappa awaits the riders tomorrow 42 kilometres from the finish line. A first category 18.9 km long KoM with average incline of 7.9% and a maximum of 14%. Top 22 on GC after stage 13, and before Monte Grappa:

1 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 56:20:56
2 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne -0:01:42
3 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Liquigas-Doimo 0:01:56
4 Xavier Tondo Volpini (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:03:54
5 Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:04:41
6 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 0:05:16
7 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram 0:05:34
8 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:07:09
9 Laurent Didier (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:07:24
10 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:08:14
11 Jan Bakelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:08:35
12 Iban Mayoz Echeverria (Spa) Footon-Servetto 0:08:38
13 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:09:48
14 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha 0:10:06
15 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:11:10
16 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:11:18
17 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:11:39
18 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team HTC - Columbia 0:12:05
19 Francis De Greef (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:12:21
20 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 0:12:32
21 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:12:53
22 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 0:12:54

Photo (by Bettini): jersey holders at start of stage, Belletti wins

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