Gatto made his move as the race hit the final 700 metre climb, as the peloton began to slow. Contador quickly followed suit and began to close him down, but ran out of road and had to settle for second best. Gatto’s fellow Italian Alessandro Petacchi gained some important points for the sprint Jersey, as he crossed the line in third. The victory will help Farnese after they were snubbed for last year’s tour.
HTC and Quickstep controlled the majority of the race, in the hope that their sprinters could take the spoils. A two man breakaway, consisting of Farnese rider Leonardo Giordani and Mirko Selvaggi, managed to gain over ten minutes on the peloton. The main group didn’t seem eager to reel the duo particularly quickly, mindful perhaps of the tougher stages ahead.
The flat stage was pointed as a chance for the sprinters to take a mid-tour victory, but the final kick upwards made it too difficult. Mark Cavendish finished at the back of the main group, after he decided not to contest the win. Petacchi’s sprint for the line has extended his lead over Christophe Le Mevel in the points classification. While Pieter Weening maintains his lead in the general classification, as Contador moves the standings.
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