Giro d'Italia, Stage 10

Stage 10, May 17, 2011, Termoli - Teramo, km 159. After the first rest day the Giro begins heading north along the Adriatic coast.


START
189 riders ride out from Termoli at 1:25 pm.

Cazaux and Beppu break clear in the first kilometer. The bunch does not respond, at 3km the two riders reach 1’30” of advantage over Krivstov (who is chasing them) and are 2’22” ahead of the field.

Krivstov catches the two escapees at km 17, where the bunch – led by the Saxo Bank – Sungard riders are 6’ behind. Three riders at the lead.

King of the Mountain, Vasto (CH) [m 123]: Beppu comes over the climb first ahead of Cazaux and Krivstov; the field is 6’08” back. Average after one hour: 36.700 kph.

With the Htc–Highroad riders pacing the chase the gap between the trio and the bunch decreases: at km 46 it is down to 4’15”. With 100 km to go a 3’55” gap.
Average speed after two hours: 37,000 kph.

In the feed zone – km 84 – the three riders in front have a lead of 4’10” over a packed field.

Intermediate Sprint, Pescara: Beppu reaches the sprint first ahead of Cazaux and Krivstov; fourth Bakelandts who dictates tha pace of the field riding 3’35” behind.

With 40 km still to race, the three-man break has a 2’50” lead over the bunch. With 30 km to go: 2’48”. With 20 km to go: 1’35. With 15 km to go the field is now chasing the escapees with 30” lead and, with only 11 km to go, the bunch catch them.

Several teams alternate in the front of the bunch but the Htc – Highroad riders pace the field in the last 3 km. Millar attacks and earns a few seconds. He is caught in the last km. Petacchi sprints – with 250 meters to go – with Cavendish on his wheel.

FINISH
Mark Cavendish snatches the stage win ahead of Francisco Ventoso; third, Alessandro Petacchi. It;s Cav's 6th Giro stage victory.



Time of the winner: 4h 00’ 49”, at an average speed of 39.615 kph.

Classifications leaders:
Maglia Rosa Estathé è Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard).
Maglia Rosso Passione Gruppo Saint-Gobain è Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre - ISD).
Maglia Bianca Adecco è Roman Kreuziger (Pro Team Astana).
Maglia Verde Banca Mediolanum è Filippo Savini (Colnago – CSF Inox).

Stage 11, Tortoreto Lido-Castelfidardo, 144 km, is classified "Media Montagna". Before the start there will be one minute of silence to mark the funeral of Wouter Weylandt. The Giro has permanently retired his race number of 108, 108 WW – Sempre con noi.


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