 Schumacher was unsurprisingly all smiles after his victory |
Germany's Stefan Schumacher beat four breakaway riders, including Britain's Charly Wegelius to win stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia. Wegelius looked to have his fellow leaders beaten but ran out of steam in the final sprint to finish back in fifth in Gemona del Friuli.
Schumacher meanwhile, edged Jose Ivan Gutierrez Palacios and Marzio Bruseghin on the line.
The result failed to affect the overall standings - Ivan Basso still leads.
He has nearly a six-minute lead over closest rival Jose Gutierrez Cataluna but insisted victory was far from guaranteed.
"I've got a five-minute lead but I'm worried about these final two mountain stages," said Basso.
"I hope I'm as strong as I've been in the last two weeks so that I can respond to any attacks from my rivals."
Stage 18 results:
1 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 5.31.33
2 Jos� Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Illes Balears same time
3 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre-Fondital st4 David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi +0.02
5 Charly Wegelius (GB) Liquigas +0.07
6 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic +2.43
7 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Team Milram st
8 Matthew White (Aus) Discovery st
9 Jos� E. Gutierrez Cataluna (Spa) Phonak st
10 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
Overall standings:
1 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 73.30.47
2 Jos� E. Gutierrez Cataluna (Spa) Phonak +5.43
3 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir +10.34
4 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery +10.58
5 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas +12.30
6 Wladimir Belli (Ita) Selle Italia-Serramenti +13.00
7 Sandy Casar (Fra) Fran�aise des Jeux +14.06
8 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital +14.48
9 Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Col) Phonak +16.40
10 Jos� Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Discovery +17.48
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