24 May 2009

Gerrans snatches Giro 14th stage

7:43 am on 24 May 2009

The Australian cyclist Simon Gerrans has won the 14th stage of the Giro d'Italia after a punishing uphill finish.

The Cervelo rider pulled away from the pack to win in four hours 16 minutes and 48 seconds following a 172-km mountainous route from Campi Bisenzio in scorching heat.

Russia's Denis Menchov of the Rabobank team, who took the pink jersey off Danilo Di Luca on Thursday, kept the overall lead comfortably.

Stage 13 winner Mark Cavendish was pulled out of the race by Team Columbia on Friday to allow the Briton to concentrate on his preparations for July's Tour de France.