AG2R's John Gadret won the eleventh stage of the Giro D'Italia today.
Stage eleven was, a difficult almost a classic stage according to race leader Alberto Contador, from Tortoreto Lido to Castelfidardo, a town noted for its accordian manufacturers and was 144kms long.
The stage started with a minute's silence to remember Wouter Weylandt whose funeral in Ghent it was today and included four category four climbs and very little flat sections.
A group of eight riders including Ventoso, Petacchi and Brutt tried to get away but with the category of some of the riders in the escaping bunch, the peleton did not allow them to gain any time.
David Millar also tried an attack but it did not come off. One man who did get away was Katusha's Daniel Moreno and he stayed away until he was caught with 9.3kms to to go by Ignatas Kololovanas of Movistar.
These two built up a 30 second gap of a chasing group which included Christophe Le Mavel who was chasing the leaders jersey.
They continued to work together but the bunch behind them was closing in fast. Daniel Moreno went for it but John Gadret over-took him with 200m to go and the AGR2 rider won the stage in a time of 3hr 33 mins and 11 seconds.
Rodriquez was second with Visconti third.
Alberto Contador, who finished fifth, keeps his pink jersey.
Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM