Defying the sprinters' teams who at one point seemed certain to catch them, a three- man breakaway jostled for victory on yesterday's 13th stage of the Giro d'Italia.
Best in the dash to the line was Bariani CSF rider Marco Canola, who beat Jackson Rodriguez (Androni Giocattoli) and Angelo Tulik (Team Europcar).
The three were part of a six-man move that went clear just after the start and who struggled to gain significant time over the peloton. However they received a lifeline towards the end of the stage when the sprinters’ teams began arguing over who should lead the chase. Many were reluctant to give any assistance to the FDJ.fr team of the race’s dominant sprinter, Nacer Bouhanni.
The hesitation was all that the trio needed, with Canola leading them in 11 seconds ahead of Bouhanni.
"I'm a strong rouleur [all- rounder] and I have a pretty good sprint, but it's not easy to emerge in this sport."
Race leader Rigobert Uran (Omega Pharma Quick Step), second-placed Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) and the other GC riders all finished in the main bunch, 11 seconds back.
Uran maintains a 37-second lead over Evans, while Rafal Majka (Tinkoff Saxo) and Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) are one minute 52 seconds and two minutes 32 seconds behind overall.
Irish duo Nicolas Roche and Philip Deignan were 103rd and 107th respectively. They are 42nd and 81st heading into today's mountain stage to Oropa.
