Intro:

Pieter Weening beat Davide Malacarne in a sprint finish, followed a long breakaway, to win stage nine of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday (May 18th).

Script:

Stage Nine of the Giro D'Italia saw a large group of 14 riders escaped from the peloton around 55 kilometres into Sunday's ninth stage from Lugo to Sestola.

Pieter Weening, one of those 14 riders, of Orica-Greenedge spotted his chance to break away from the lead group inside the final 20 kilometres, just before the start of the final climb to the finishing line.

Yet the Dutchman had company. He was soon joined by Italian Davide Malacarne at the front of the field, while the remaining members of the breakaway were unable to keep pace.

One rider who did have plenty of power in his legs in the closing kilometres was Domenico Pozzovivo, he was a threat to overall leader Cadel Evans, starting the day one minute and 50 seconds behind the Australian.

The Italian pulled clear of the peloton on the climb, powered his way past the remnants of the breakaway group and went on to take third.

The win went to Weening, who came out on top after a late game of cat and mouse with Europcar rider Malacarne before crossing the line in four hours, 25 minutes and 51 seconds.

Pozzovivo of Ag2r-La Mondiale followed 42 seconds later and now one minute and 20 seconds behind Cadel Evans.

The BMC Racing, Evans remains 57 seconds clear of second placed Rigoberto Uran.

The next stage commences from Modena, with a rest day coming before then.