Spain’s Carlos Sastre wins Giro stage and Lance Armstrong suffers heavy Giro fall
Lance Armstrong escaped serious injury after a fall midway through the 19th stage of the Giro d’Italia, which was won by Spain’s Carlos Sastre.
Armstrong, a seven-time winner of the Tour de France, fell off his saddle as he went round a hairpin curve.
The 37-year-old hit the pavement on his left shoulder – the opposite side from his crash in March when he broke his collarbone – and sustained bruising.
Russian Denis Menchov has the leader’s pink jersey with just two stages left.
Italian Michele Scarponi secures Giro stage win
Italian Michele Scarponi won the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia from Sulmona to Benevento on Thursday.
The Serramenti rider, 29, came home in a time of four hours, seven minutes and 41 seconds.
Russian Denis Menchov of Rabobank finished safely in the peloton – almost four minutes behind – to maintain his overall lead.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8072518.stm
Franco Pellizotti secures Giro stage win
Italian Franco Pellizotti captured the 17th stage of the Giro d’Italia from Chieti to Blockhaus on Wednesday.
The Liquigas rider held off several top names to clock two hours 21 minutes six seconds on the 83km mountainous route.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8070849.stm