Astana's Roman Kreuziger won the nineteenth stage of the Giro D'Italia this afternoon.
The setting for this stage was the Northern Alps and a 197km stage from Treviso to Alpe di Pampeago.
Seventeen riders in Emanuele Sella (Androni), Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago), Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky), Ivan Santaromita (BMC), Serge Pauwels (QuickStep), Juan Manuel Garate (Rabobank), Adriano Malori (Lampre), Jose Ventoso (Movistar), Andrey Zeits (Astana), Adam Hansen (Lotto Belisol), Cesare Benedetti (NetApp), Pierre Cazaux (Euskaltel), Mikhail Ignatyev (Katusha), Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini), Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Saxo Bank). Sandy Casar (FDJ), Thomas Rohregger (RadioShack) went away with 13kms gone.
They were 8.12 ahead ahead of the peloton which saw race leader Joaquin Rodriquez being watched by points leader Mark Cavendish and his Team Sky team mates with 81.2kms to go.
After Jose Rujano had abandoned, yesterday's stage winner Andrea Guardini of the Farnese Vini dropped out of the leading group, leaving the sixteen to grind out the kilometres at the front.
With Thomas Rohreigger held up by a motorcyclist, Stefan Pirazzi took the Mountan Climb on the Passo Manghen with 75kms to go.
The descent was tight and narrow and South African Robbie Hunter was one who falled twisting his right ankle.
This was a punishing stage and next up for the riders was the Passo Pampeago which they had to ride up twice. Sandy Casar and Steffano Pirazzi were off the front as they started this forty kilometre loop back to the finish on the category one Alpe Di Pameago.
Pirazzi took the points at the top of the climb and were still over two minutes ahead of the peloton as they set off for the Passo Lavaze.
They were caught by Thomas Rohreigger and Emmanuele Sella and were a minute ahead of a trio including Roman Kreuzeiger with seven to go.
Joaquin Rodriquez brought the peloton up and they were less than two minutes behind the front runners.
Pirazzi pushed on alone whilst Ryder Hesjedal battled with Scarponi and Rodriquez.
With 1.8kms to go, Pirazzi was caught and Roman Kreuziger took over amid massive crowds.
Kreuziger kept strong with Hesjedal and took the win in a time of 6.18.02
Hesjedal was second some 16 seconds back with Rodriquez third some thirty two seconds back.
Katusha's Joaquin Rodriquez keeps his leaders pink jersey.
Tomorrow sees the highest ever finish for a Giro D'Italia stage when the 219km stage runs from Caldes to Passo Dello Stelvio.