JOAQUIM RODRIGUEZ MADE a late charge to win stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia this evening and take the pink jersey as the overall leader.
Rodriguez of Katusha burst away from Rabobank’s Tom-Jelte Slagter in the final 200 metres to take the win as the other Giro d’Italia contenders struggled behind him.
The victory allowed the 33-year-old Spaniard to take the pink jersey from Garmin-Barracuda’s Ryder Hesjedal. Rodriguez leads Hesjedal by 17 seconds with Astana’s Paolo Tiralongo in third, 32 seconds behind the race leader from Katusha.
Tuesday’s 186-kilometre stage from Civitavecchia to Assisi ended with a short and sharp final climb into the monastery town and with five kilometres to go the early breakaway had been caught allowing the main contenders to slug it out.
A series of brief attacks followed with Slagter the main perpetrator, but as the lead bunch entered Assisi’s ancient town walls, it was anyone’s race. A final attack from Slagter stretched the riders into single-file in the tight streets of Assisi and Rodriguez slotted in behind the Dutchman.
With 200 metres to go, Rodriguez timed his attack perfectly and went across the line to claim his first stage win ever in the Giro d’Italia. Hesjedal finished seventh, six seconds behind Rodriguez but Tuesday’s victory gave the Katusha rider a 20-second bonus to take the pink jersey.
