Cavendish-ing It Out – Stage 13 Giro d’Italia Centoanni

After a grueling 60.6km Individual Time Trial on Thursday afternoon, the peloton used every bit of the 176km Stage 13 from Lido di Camaiore to Firenze as a reprieve.

The sprinters took full advantage of the relatively flat course as their relegation to the back of the peloton is more than a certainty with more big mountains on the horizon. The two dominant sprinters, Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia-Highroad) and Alessandro Petacchi (LPR Brakes – Farnese Vini), of the race renewed their burgeoning rivalry. Having learned from his mistake on Stage 2, the rider from the Isle of Man took out the sprint earlier and was never seriously challenged at the line, winning by about a bike length. Petacchi would hold on for second from the hard charging Allan Davis (Quick Step).

Results
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - Highroad
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini
3. Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step

General Classification After Stage 13
1. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
2. Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
4. Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
5. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
6. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad
7. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas
8. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli
9. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C.
10. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia - Highroad

Next: Stage 14 - Campi Bisenzio - Bologna (San Luca), 172km
A return to the mountains and an uphill finish can only mean one thing, another opportunity for “the killer.”