Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini) won the Giro D'Italia Stage 15 this afternoon as Joaquin Rodriquez regained his leaders jersey.
Another day in the mountains for the riders on this 172km stage from Busto Arsizio anrd around Lake Como to Pian dei Resinelli, started with a minute's silence for those killed in this morning's earthquake in the Bologna region.
179 riders had signed in minus Jeremy Hunt (pictured below) whose wife was due to give birth and Frank Schleck and it was Bonnafond (AG2R) and Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini) who were the first to attack.
Bonnafond took the first intermediate sprint of the day with Mark Cavendish take a third place in increase his lead in the points competition.
With Graham Brown and Visconit abandoning, Bonnafond went off on his own and was 5.20 ahead of a chase group which contained Amets Txurruka, Emmanuele Sella, Alberto Alguacil and Matteo Carrera.
Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini) caught Bonnafond and sped past him with 75kms to go as the rain continued to come down on the descent of the Valico di Valcava.
BMC's Maro Pinotti crashed soem 70kms from the finish but after getting a new bike was able to continue.
The chasing group extended to eleven riders including Damiano Cunego who was now the leader on the road as the peloton containing leader Ryder Hesjesdal was 9.26 back.
Rabbotini, who had gone into the day 71st, was five minutes clear when he took the Category 3 Forcella di Bura and Category 2 Culmine di San Pietro climb after 144kms.
With 17.4kms to go, Rabotini slipped on the wet and went down but got back on his bike and carried on as the stage approached Barzio.
The pelton were a minute and forty seconds behind Cunego's chasing group, so knowing that he needed two and a half minutes, Cunego tried to catch Rabbotini as did Stefano Perazzi.
Ryder Hesjedal got up to the chase group just as Michele Scarponi attacked with 1.5kms to go to try and get near Algacuil and Rabotini.
Joaquin Rodriquez shot up and caught Rabotini with 500ms to go. But Rodriques let Rabbotini take the win in a time of 5.15.30. Alegacuil was third with Team Sky's Sergio Henao fourth.
Ryder Hesjedal came in 39 seconds back and is now 30 seconds behind new race leader Joaquin Rodriquez.
Tomorrow is a rest day.
Pictures copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM