Francisco Ventoso won stage nine of the Giro d’Italia after a crash on the final corner held up a number of sprinters. Here’s the latest batch of pictures from Italy…
Geraint Thomas and Ian Stannard look after Team Sky leader Mark Cavendish, with the 166km stage from San Giorgio del Sannio to Frosinone expected to end in a bunch sprint.
A three-man breakaway of Pierre Cazaux (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Martin Keizer (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Brian Bulgac (Lotto-Belisol) jumped from the front of the peloton shortly after the start.
Only a small group of riders avoided the hold up to contest the finish, with Cavendish and Matt Goss (Orca-GreenEDGE) among the riders to crash.
And it was Ventoso who emerged victorious.
Overall leader Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) avoided the pile-up and finished seventh on the stage.
Cavendish emerged unhurt from the crash…
…but Pozzato was not so lucky and suffered cuts to both legs.
The victory was Ventoso’s second win at the Giro having previously triumphed on stage six in last year’s race.
