Ulissi prevails in controversial Giro sprint
Giro d'Italia 2011, stage 17 photo gallery by Graham Watson>>
Diego Ulissi (Lampre-ISD) took the 2011 Giro d'Italia's 17th stage on Wednesday afternoon by clinching a controversial four-up sprint into Tirano.
As Ulissi led the sprint out down the barriers, Italian champion Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli) tried to squeeze through the tiny gap down the inside, landing two meaty shoves on Ulissi's lower back to succesfully bludgeon his way through.
The pair even had time to exchange momentary glances and angry hand gestures in the final 50 metres before resuming their sprints for the line.
Visconti crossed it first, but he was quickly declassified to third, behind Ulissi and second-placed Pablo Lastras (Movistar).
On a middle mountain stage through the Dolomites, they were the strongest of the day's fifteen-up breakaway, which also included first-week frontrunners Christophe Le Mevel (Garmin-Cervelo) and Kanstantin Sivtsov (HTC-Highroad).
Although today's 230km route between Feltre and Tirano included the high Passo Tonale, the favourites agreed a ceasefire, content to leave the running to the large escape after several days exchanging blows in more gruelling Dolomite stages.
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Following a fast descent off the final climb up to Aprica, Visconti, Lastras, Ulissi and Jan Bakelants (Omega Pharma-Lotto) separated themselves from their fellow fugitives with four kilometres to go.
After an ugly sprint, it was 21 year old Ulissi raising his hands - a lot more peacefully than rival Visconti had done in the sprint - on the podium after the biggest win of his career.
Results
Giro d'Italia 2011, stage 17: Feltre-Tirano
1. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-ISD 230 kilometres in 5-31-51
2. Pablo Lastras (Spa) Movistar
3. Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli at same time
4. Jan Bakelants (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 4 secs
5. Fabio Taborre (Ita) Acqua & Sapone at 8 secs
6. Edouard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha
7. Hubert Dupont (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale
8. Jesus Hernandez (Spa) Saxo Bank-Sungard
9. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Astana at same time
10. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) HTC-Highroad at 10 secs
General classification after stage 17
1. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-Sungard
2. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 4-58
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 5-45
4. John Gadret (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale at 7-35
5. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) HTC-Highroad at 9-12
6. Jose Rujano Guillen (Ven) Androni Giocattoli at 8-18
7. Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 9-22
8. Denis Menchov (Rus) Geox-TMC at 9-38
9. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana at 9-47
10. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at 10-25
Other
75. Peter Kennaugh (GB) Sky at 1-49-14
94. David Millar (GB) Garmin-Cervelo at 2-09-12
150. Russell Downing (GB) Sky at 3-04-46
Russell Downing
Race leader Alberto Contador
Jan Bakelants heads the escape group
Stage 17's final sprint outcome was decided by the race commissaires after a bit of a tussle between the riders
Giro d'Italia 2011: Latest news
Millar's time trial practice run
Nibali gives up hope for Giro d'Italia win
Contador ignores Armstrong doping investigation
Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 24)
Controversial Crostis climb removed from Giro route
Sky leader Lofkvist loses more time at the Giro
Giro contenders struggle with Contador's dominance
Contador widens Giro advantage but Tour doping case waits
Porte reflects, one year after Giro success
Le Mevel goes on attack for Giro's pink jersey
Giro fines Contador for missing press conference
Cavendish responds to 'team car' accusations at Giro
Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 15)
Giro's Sicilian cyclists proud to face Mount Etna
Contador surprises at Giro with attack ahead of mountains
Contador minds food at Giro as CAS decision nears
Weening supported by Rabobank and model Kroes
Local lad Appollonio bears fruit in Fiuggi
Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 12 edition)
Blythe finding way in second Grand Tour
Leopard-Trek withdraws from Giro d'Italia
Leopard-Trek uncertain to continue in Giro
Tuesday's Giro stage in memory of Weylandt
Giro doctor describes actions to save Weylandt
Wouter Weylandt killed in Giro crash
Giro news shorts (May 8)
Cavendish likely to take Giro lead tomorrow
Giro 2011: Who will win?
Giro d'Italia 2011: Stage reports
Stage 16: Contador lords it over the rest in Giro TT
Stage 15: Nieve wins mountain marathon as Contador continues at the top
Stage 14: Anton conquers Zoncolan in shortened stage
Stage 13: Contador consolidates Giro overall as Rujano takes stage
Stage 12: Cavendish holds off Appollonio to take second victory
Stage 11: Gadret grabs dramatic stage win
Stage 10: Cavendish opens his Giro account
Stage nine: Contador storms Etna to take Giro lead
Stage eight: Gatto springs late attack to take win
Stage seven: Neo-pro De Clercq wins by a whisker
Stage six: Ventoso steals Giro stage six win
Stage five: Weening holds on to take stage and maglia rosa
Stage four: Tearful Farrar and Leopard-Trek lead riders across stage four finish line
Stage three: Vicioso victory overshadowed by Weylandt crash
Stage two: Petacchi wins as Cavendish takes lead
Stage one: HTC-Highroad wins Giro's opening team time trial
Giro d'Italia 2011: Photo galleries
Stage 17 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 16 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 15 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 14 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 13 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage four photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson
Giro d'Italia 2011: Live text coverage
Giro d'Italia stage 16 live text updates
Giro d'Italia 2011 stage 13 live text updates
Giro d'Italia 2011 stage 11 live text updates
Giro d'Italia 2011 stage seven live text updates
Giro d'Italia 2011 stage five live text updates
Follow the 2011 Giro d'Italia live with Cycling Weekly
Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list
Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list
Giro d'Italia 2011: TV schedule
Giro d'Italia 2011: British Eurosport TV schedule
Related links
Giro d'Italia 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
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