Movistar's Francisco Ventoso won the Giro D'Italia ninth stage this afternoon.
There was rain when the riders set off from San Giorgio del Sannio , to the east of Naples, to Frosinone on a 171km stage that was one for the sprinters with a pretty flatish route.
Three riders in Pierre Cazaux (Euskaltel), Brian Bulgac (Lotto-Belisol) and Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil) were today's escapers and they were 3.34 clear ahead of the peloton containing race leader Ryder Hesjedal with 70kms to go .
Martin Keizer went away and took the full six points from the intermediate sprint at Ceprano with 23kms to go ahead of Mark Cavendish who sprinted in front of Thomas De Gendt.
Everyone was all together as we went into the final ten kilometres of the stage.
Four riders including Joaquin Rodriquez took to the front. They were caught and Fabio Felline tried his luck before being caught with 3kms to go.
Adam Hansen then went but he was caught with after a kilometer.
GreenEdge were on the front with Cavendish about twenty back. On the final corner, there was a big crash, Mark Cavendish went down as did Matt Goss and Pozzatto and it was Ventoso from Movistar who won in a time of 3.39.15 ahead of Felline and Nizzolo.
Ryder Hesjedal keeps his lead in the race.