Ulissi wins contentious sprint in 17th stage
Posted May 25, 2011 4:25 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TIRANO, Italy — Diego Ulissi won a contentious three-man sprint finish in the 17th stage of the Giro d’Italia on Wednesday, while Alberto Contador maintained his overall lead.
Giovanni Visconti crossed first but was relegated by the race jury to third place for pushing Ulissi out of the way with his hand.
“I was ahead and I just did my own sprint,” Ulissi said. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Visconti maintained that Ulissi altered his trajectory.
“It’s incredible. I screamed at Ulissi 10 times,” Visconti said. “I nearly wasn’t able to stay upright.”
Ulissi rode the 230-kilometre leg from Feltre to Tirano, which included a major climb over the Tonale pass and a smaller climb over the Aprica pass, in five hours 31 minutes 51 seconds. Pablo Lastras Garcia of Spain crossed third but was awarded second place.
The winners were members of what was once a 16-man breakaway that gained a lead of seven minutes 45 seconds over the main pack at one point.
The main pack featuring all of the overall leaders crossed 2:59 later. Toronto’s Michael Barry was 3:33 off the lead in a tie for 50th place.
Contador remained 4:58 in front of Michele Scarponi in the overall standings, with Vincenzo Nibali 5:45 behind. Barry was well back in 65th place.
Stage 18 Thursday is a 151-kilometre leg from Morbegno to San Pellegrino Terme, featuring one major climb 30 kilometres from the finish.
The three-week race ends Sunday in Milan with a 31.5-kilometre individual time trial.
