The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Rodriguez tightens hold on pink jersey
SPANIARD JOAQUIN Rodriguez retained the leader’s pink jersey in cycling’s Giro d’italia after winning stage 17 from Falzes to Cortina d’ampezzo yesterday.
The Team Katusha rider led home a sixman breakaway group to record his second stage win on this year’s event and remain 30 seconds ahead of Garmin-barracuda’s Ryder Hesjedal in the general classification.
The Canadian was third yesterday behind Ivan Basso of Liquigas, who lies third in the standings and trails leader Rodriguez by a minute and 22 seconds.
Team Sky’s Rigoberto Uran was fourth in today’s stage and retains the white jersey as the best young rider. His team-mate, Great Britain Olympian Mark Cavendish, tops the points standings and will wear the red jersey for the 149-kilometre stage from Sanvito di Cadore to vedelago.
Defending champion Michele Scarponi of Lampre and Colnago’s Domenico Pozzovivo completed the leading group over yesterday’s mountainous 186km.
Olympic champion Jamie Staff expects Philip Hindes to succeed him in the Great Britain team in London, but believes a successful gold medal defence in the team sprint is unlikely.
Staff combined with Jason Kenny and Sir Chris Hoy to win the three- man, three- lap event in Beijing in 2008 before retiring two years later, in part due to a back problem.
Britain have struggled to fill the specialist starter slot occupied by Staff, with Kenny, Ross Edgar and 19-year-old German-born Hindes all tried.
Hindes now appears to be in pole position to lead out Kenny and Hoy after taking the same role at April’s Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne.
Staff, now a coach of the United States team, said: “He was maybe third fastest starter and if he can go out and deliver that kind of time it gives a fighting chance of a medal.”