Katusha's Joaquin Rodriquez won the Giro D'Italia Tenth Stage this afternoon.
Stage ten left Civitavecchia at 12,32pm heading some 187kms later to Assisi without Filippo Pozzato of Farnese Vini who caused a crash yesterday on the final bend for which he apologised.
A big crash early saw five riders who hit the deck back in the race before Mark Cavendish took the first sprint of the day to put himself nearer the red points jersey, which was being worn by Matt Goss.
Five riders in Bonnafond (Ag2r), Mínguez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Failli (Farnese Vini), Brandle (NetApp) and Keizer (Vacansoleil) got away and were still over two minutes ahead with 50kms to go.
Through the town of Bastardo (yes honestly!) with 36kms to, the five were ninety seconds clear.
Five dropped to three and then became six at the front. They were 41 seconds ahead going into the final climb of the day at Assisi.
With five kilometres of the stage left, the stage was now anyone's. There were digs rather than attacks. Pozzovivo came up as did race leader Ryder Hesjedal on narrow roads.
The roads widened for the final two kilometres allowing Team Sky's Rigoberto Uran and Cadret from AG2R to take a slight lead.
Under two tight arches and up the hill, Tom Slagter led but Joaquin Rodriquez went and won in a time of 4;25:05.
Huzarski of NetApp was second with Slagter third.
Rodriquez now takes over the leaders pink jersey by seventeen seconds from Hesjedal.
Tomorrow's stage is 255kms long.