Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) surprised the overall favourites in the first individual time trial at the Giro d?Italia but Alberto Contador (Astana) moved up to fourth place overall and sent another clear message to his Italian rivals that he has quickly found some impressive form.
As expected Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) kept the pink jersey but the hilly 39.4km shook up the overall standings behind him and showed for the first time who are the real contenders for final victory.
Bruseghin set a time of 56-41, finishing strongly on the uphill cobbled streets in the centre of Urbino.
Despite being diagnosed with a crack in his forearm, Alberto Contador (Astana) did perhaps the best time trial of his career, finishing just eight seconds behind Bruseghin.
His high pedal cadence helped him on the climbs and he showed he will be a rival to Ricco in next week?s mountain stages.
The other overall contenders were spread over two minutes, with Gilberto Simoni (Diquigiovanni) the biggest surprise at 1-02. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) was the biggest loser, finishing 2-11 behind Bruseghin. Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval) lost 2-05 after an early crash. His track mitts got caught up on his handlebars and was unable to take a corner. He went off the road and landed on his left side. He was quickly back up but claimed he lost 40 seconds.
David Millar (Slipstream) opted not to go at 100% after seeing the hilly profile of the course. He set a time of 1-04-53.
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CONTADOR MOVES UP TO FOURTH
Thanks to his impressive ride, Contador is now fourth overall and is expected to take the race leader?s pink jersey when the Giro heads into the Dolomites on Friday.
Bruseghin is fifth at 53 seconds and Kloden is sixth at 55 seconds. Ricco is ninth, 1-33 behind Contador, Di Luca is tenth at 1-34. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) is 12th at 1-58, Simoni is 13th at 2-11, at the same time as Levi Leipheimer, who had a poor time trial, and Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) is 15th at 2-16.
?I?m happy with my time trial and it?s good to gain time on my overall rivals but I would have liked to win the stage. I think I could have won it but the cobbles in the final section up to the finish were wet when I rode. That cost me a few seconds,? Contador said.
?I know I?ve got an advantage on my rivals now but there is still a long way to go in the Giro. The time trial is a good sign but it?s too early to say what will happen in the rest of the race.?
Contador is thinking ahead to the three key mountain stages in the Dolomites at the weekend but even Wednesday?s stage in the Apennines could be important.
The 199km stage from Urbania to Cesena is packed with the steep climbs the late Marco Pantani trained on and could cause some problems after the efforts of the time trial. Riccardo Ricco knows the hills well and could try and gain time with a long-range attack.
If the big hitters do not decide to race, the stage is perfect for a long breakaway by good climbers.
GIRO D'ITALIA 2008 STAGE 10 TT: RESULTS
1. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre 39.4km in 56min 41secs
2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana at 8secs
3. Andreas Kloden (Ger) Astana at 20secs
4. Marco Pinotti (Ita) High Road at 36secs
5. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) LPR at 44secs
6. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank at 46secs
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas at 54secs
8. Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) CSC at 59secs
9. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana at 1min 1sec
10. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Serramenti PVC-Androni Giocattoli at 1min 2secs
British
71. Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld at 4min 42secs
79. Steven Cummings (GB) Barloworld at 5min 15secs
99. Charly Wegelius (GB) Liquigas at 6min 2secs
149. Mark Cavendish (GB) High Road at 7min 32secs
155. David Millar (GB) Slipstream at 8min 12secs
157. Bradley Wiggins (GB) High Road at 8min 24secs
OVERALL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 10
1. Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Quick Step in 43hours 12min 2secs
2. Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner at 3min 31secs
3. Gabriele Bosisio (Ita) LPR at 5min 50secs
4. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana at 6min 59secs
5. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre at 7min 52secs
6. Andreas Kloden (Ger) Astana at 7min 54secs
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas at 8min 4secs
8. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) LPR at 8min 9secs
9. Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval at 8min 32secs
10. Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR at 8min 33secs
British
94. David Millar (GB) Slipstream at 44min 53secs
141. Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld at 1hour 10min 34secs
150. Steven Cummings (GB) Barloworld at 1hour 14min 54secs
151. Charly Wegelius (GB) Liquigas at 1hour 17min 3secs
154. Mark Cavendish (GB) High Road at 1hour 20min 15secs
159. Bradley Wiggins (GB) High Road at 1hour 24min 11secs
David Millar
Levi Leipheimer
Alberto Contador
Marzio Bruseghin
Giovanni Visconti retained the race lead
All photos by Graham Watson
GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: STAGE REPORTS
Stage nine: Cavendish misses out in sprint
Stage eight: Ricco wins again
Stage seven: Di Luca, Ricco and Contador gain time on rivals
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