Galloping Gerrans - Stage 14 Giro d'Italia Centoanni

It seems a bit ludicrous on my part, standing at 5' 6", to refer to Simon Gerrans (Cervelo Test Team) as diminutive, but at 5' 7" Gerrans is one of the smaller riders in the professional peloton. But what the 29-year old Australian has lacked in stature, he has more than made up for in riding skill.

To date, Gerrans' most significant victory was on Stage 15 in the 2008 Tour de France, which he won after out-sprinting his breakaway partners. Gerrans would once again repeat the feat and add to his grand tour victory total by bagging the 172km Stage 14 from Campi Bisenzio to Bologna of the 100th Giro d'Italia. Rubens Bertogliati (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) would finish second and Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre - N.G.C.) would round out the podium.

Results
1. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Cervelo Test Team
2. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli
3. Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C.

Although he remained in third, Levi Leipheimer (Astana) would lose time to both Denis Menchov (Rabobank) and Danilo DiLuca (LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini).

General Classification After Stage 14
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. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas
7. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad
8. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli
9. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C.
10. David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

Next: Stage 15 - May 24: Forlì - Faenza, 161km
A flat finish after several climbs sets up for another breakaway.