May 18, 2005 – Robbie McEwen (Davitamon) pulled off a truly brilliant sprint win in the 10th stage of the Giro and the last for the sprinters before the mountains. Sliding into position behind super-sprinter Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa) and Petacchi’s picture perfect Fassa team leadout, he surged ahead in the last few meters of the 212km stage from Ravenna to Rossano Veneto, stealing a second stage win from the Italian. The only other highlight of the day: a solo break by Rafaele Illiano (Selle Italia), who jumped away at mid-race and stayed out until 30km from the finish.

A straightforward day for Danilo DI Luca (Liquigas), who retains the pink leader’s jersey as the race heads into its first mountain stages in the Dolomites tomorrow. Look for a new leader tomorrow”¦

Stage 10 Results

1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 5.29.21 (36.726 km/h)
2 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
3 Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Cofidis-Le Credit Par Telephone
4 Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile Team
5 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick.Step
6 Isaac Galvez Lopez (Spa) Illes Balears
7 Robert Forster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
8 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Quick.Step
9 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems
10 Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Domina Vacanze

85 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel-Pro Cycling Team
171 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Discovery Channel-Pro Cycling Team


GC after stage 10:
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 44.51.40
2 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 0.09
3 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel-Pro Cycling Team 0.35
4 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 1.15
5 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 1.27
6 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 1.35
7 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 1.38
8 Serguei Gonchar (Ukr) Domina Vacanze 1.39
9 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner 2.10
10 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 2.11

78 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel-Pro Cycling Team 21.19
173 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Discovery Channel-Pro Cycling Team 54.16