Farnese's Andrea Guardini won the Giro D'Italia Stage 18 this afternoon.
With a drop of 923m from the start at San Vito di Cadore to the finish at Vedelago, the 139km stage was one for the sprinters.
For Team Sky that meant keeping Mark Cavendish (pictured below) in his red points jersey after Rodriquez's win yesterday had reduced his lead to just a point.
The first break started after 20kms and involved Manuele Boaro (Saxo Bank), Stef Clement (Rabobank), Pier Paolo De Negri (Farnese Vini) and Angelo Pagani (Colnago-CSF Inox).who had a lead close to three minutes before Team Sky with Brits Geraint Thomas and Ian Stannard at the front closed it down before the first intermediate sprint of the day at Cesiomaggorie with 64kms to go.
Cavendish took the full eight points to take his tally to 118 with Geraint Thomas (pictured below) third.
Six riders then broke away but with Martin Keizer on the front, it had dropped to four with Stef Clement and Lars Bak leading the way.
Mark Cavendish was handily placed but flanked by the likes of Ferrari with five kilometres to go.
Saxo Bank were on the front with 1.5kms to the finish line. Bernie Eisel found a gap and forced his way up, bringing Cavendish with him. Thomas then took Cavendish up but Guardini pipped him in a time of 3.00.52
Joaquin Rodriquez keeps his leaders jersey, whilst Cavendish keeps his points jersey
Stage 19 tomorrow is from Treviso to Alpe Di Pampaego.
Pictures copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM