The Americans had their moment in the sun yesterday, but the Italians are back in control at the Giro.

The day started with the news that Igor Astarloa (Milram) dropped out of the race with intestinal issues.

The first escape of the stage race went to Dioniso Galparoso (Euskatel-Euskadi). He built up a lead of 1 minute and 20 seconds before being pulled back into the peloton.  The riders all stayed together until the descent of the day’s first climb. Jeremy Roy (Française des Jeux) and David Loosli (Lampre) took off and stayed away for quite a while building over a 10 minute lead at some point.

A railroad crossing 65 km from the finish took down a number of riders. David Zabriskie of Slipstream-Chipotle was the most seriously injured and had to be taken away in an ambulance.

The break was captured with about 50km to go. Slipstream worked hard to keep Christian Vandevelde near the front, but the LPR Brakes squad then pushed to the front to position team leader and defending champion Danilo Di Luca for the finish.

Around the closing circuit, the lead group kept getting smaller and smaller.  Joaquin Rodriguez (Caisse d’Epargne) went for the surprise attack, but his legs gave out and a group came up and overtook him. Riccardo Riccò had the strongest legs, outsprinting countryman Danilo Di Luca to take the win.

Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) finished fourth, which gave him a one-second lead over Christian Vandevelde and taking over ownership of the leader’s jersey.

Results:

1 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott                                      5.48.35 (35.629 km/h)
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes
3 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
5 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) LPR Brakes
6 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
7 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française des Jeux                                           0.04
8 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas                                                     0.08
9 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott
10 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana

General Classification:

1 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas                                                6.15.16
2 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30                   0.01
3 Chris Anker Sørensen (Den) Team CSC                                                0.07
4 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes
5 Morris Possoni (Ita) Team High Road                                                0.08
6 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
7 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC                                                      0.17
8 Bradley McGee (Aus) Team CSC
9 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team High Road                                           0.18
10 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) LPR Brakes                                                 0.19