 Bettini celebrates his stage victory |
Italy's Paolo Bettini won a bunch sprint to take stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia from Mergozzo to Brescia. The Olympic champion edged Germany's Olaf Pollack into second while another German, Robert Forster, came third.
With the race into its final week, Italy's Ivan Basso retained the overall lead by finishing in the group.
Basso and other leading cyclists competing for the overall victory kept quiet ahead of consecutive, tough legs in the mountains.
Tuesday's stage ends atop Monte Bondone, including a 17km (10.5 mile) climb to the finish.
It was Bettini's first stage win at the Giro this year after three podium finishes.
The stage was livened up by a quartet of riders, Frenchman Christophe Edaleine, Gustav Larsson of Sweden, Italy's Gabriele Missaglia and Spaniard Ivan Mayoz, breaking away in the 23rd kilometre.
However, they were never allowed a huge lead as Bettini's Quick Step team led the peloton in pursuit and eventually reeled them in 9km from the finish line.
Results from stage 15, Mergozzo to Brescia, 189km:
1. Paolo Bettini (Ita/Quick-Step) 4:15:42"
2. Olaf Pollack (Ger/T-Mobile) ST
3. Robert Forster (Ger/Gerolsteiner)
4. Henk Vogels (Aus/Davitamon - Lotto)
5. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg/Panaria)
6. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita/Phonak)
7. Leonardo Duque (Col/Cofidis)
8. Alberto Loddo (Ita/Selle Italia)
9. Carlos da Cruz (Fra/Francaise des Jeux)
10. Gorazd Stangelj (Slo/Lampre)
Overall standings:
1. Ivan Basso (Ita/Team CSC) 59:44:07"
2. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Spa/Phonak) +3:27"
3. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita/Discovery Channel) +5:30"
4. Wladimir Belli (Ita/Selle Italia) +7:35"
5. Gilberto Simoni (Ita/Saunier Duval) +8:00"
6. Sandy Casar (Fra/Francaise des Jeux) +8:01"
7. Franco Pellizotti (Ita/Liquigas) +8:14"
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