2013 Giro Stage 3: Paolini swoops

Veteran Italian rider Luca Paolini (Katusha) attacked on a long downhill to take victory in Monday’s Giro d’Italia stage. It was this season’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner’s first Giro victory. He also snatched the pink jersey from the shoulders of Sky’s Salvatore Puccio.

The 222-km stage from Sorrento to Marina Di Ascea had two categorized climbs in the final 70 km, prompting a seven man breakaway that enjoyed a seven-minute maximum advantage. On the Cat. 2 Mercato Cilento, one escapee dropped away and the rest fought it out at the summit for mountains points. Willem Wouters (Belgium/Vacansoleil) crested first, becoming the blue jersey holder on the road.

On the descent, one of the escapees, Fabio Taborre (Italy/Vini Fantini) scooted away from his break-mates and valiantly assaulted the foothills of the final Cat. 3 climb on his own.

However, on the opening slopes of the Sella Di Catona ascent, Ryder Hesjedal’s Garmin-Sharp pumped up the pace, creating a small group containing all the GC favourites save Cadel Evans (Australia/BMC). Then Hesjedal attacked, taking a decent gap before Vincenzo Nibali’s Astana team hauled him back.

After mountains leader Giovanni Visconti (Italy/Movistar) fought to keep the blue jersey by going over Sella Di Catona’s summit in the lead of the swollen group, Hesjedal attacked again on the descent. Once more, the Canadian was brought to heel, but made a couple of more digs on the long drop to the finish.

As Marina Di Ascea drew closer, it was Katusha’s Luca Paolini’s turn to attack on the drop. One of the GC favourites, Michele Scarponi (Italy/Lampre), crashed in the animated chase. However, the 35-year old Paolini held his gap to the finish line, with Evans coming runner-up and Hesjedal third, both grabbing crucial bonus seconds on Wiggins and Nibali.

Hesjedal is now in seventh on GC, 34 seconds behind Paolini and 17 seconds behind second-placed Wiggins.

Giro Stage Top 3
1) Luca Paolini (Italy/Katusha) 5:43:50
2) Cadel Evans (Australia/BMC) +0:16
3) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Garmin-Sharp) +0:16

GC Top 3
1) Luca Paolini 9:04:32
2) Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain/Sky) +0:17
3) Rigoberto Uran Uran (Colombia/Sky) +0:17

Canadians
7) Ryder Hesjedal +0:34
135) Dominique Rollin (FDJ) +12:15
150) Christian Meier (Orica-GreenEdge) +14:46
177) Svein Tuft (Orica-GreenEdge) +16:45