Please join us for live blogging of stage nine of the Giro d’Italia. Live coverage begins at 9.20pm AEST with comments added to this post as the race progresses.
Choo Choo! Get on board the sprint trains for the 166km journey north east towards Italy’s west coast, from San Giorgio del Sannino to Frosinone.
This stage is flat and luckily for most, there’s no categorised climbs.
Look for Sky, Rabobank and Orica GreenEdge to send one or two riders to the front with Garmin to ensure a breakaway doesn’t stay away. These guys won’t let this stage go.
The traguardo volante (intermediate sprint) comes just 44kms from the finish at Ceprano. If the peloton is all together by this point, it may be mildly interesting to watch.
The end is tricky. It’s a 2km dead flat run to the end, but a sharp left hand bend just 300m out could scupper some. Let’s hope everybody concentrates and if you’re name is Ferrari, behave.
Renshaw and Rabobank need this win. I’m tipping Goss. But Cavendish with his blistering form and stunning support from Eisel and Thomas thus far will make a fool of me again.
Sitting at 53 points behind Goss on 65, the Manx Missile will pull on the red jersey again if he wins.
The overall classification will not change. Ryder Hesjedal will wear pink another day with Rodriguez an impressive nine seconds behind after nabbing an eight second bonus in third place yesterday.
With two weeks still to endure, the 95th edition of the La Corsa Rosa is anyone’s.
Who gets the advantage tonight? Find out from 9.20pm AEST as we cover Stage 9 of the Giro d’Italia with live race updates and commentary.
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Roar Guru
Apologies, Cavendish moves to within four points of Goss. Cav on 61, Goss on 65.
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Roar Guru
To sum up quickly. Everything still pretty much the same on all the classifications. Cav moves up to within just 5 points from Goss in the points race after getting the sprint points out on the road, the duo unable to contest the final sprint. It appears everyone is OK after the crash. There'll be interesting tweets tonight. Good night all.
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Roar Guru
No it was Felline from Androni who came second, not Ferrari.
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Roar Guru
Still it's still Ventoso's win. Ferrari may also have made it back to make second
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Roar Guru
Renshaw taken out too. How disappointing.
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Roar Guru
Ventoso from Movistar wins it. Cav and Goss may take Pozzatto out and give him a talking to.
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Roar Guru
Too much happening. Cav 20 back. Goss is third in line. Renshaw's up there too. And of course there's a crash. Goss gone. Cav down.
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Roar Guru
Goss third in line behind Pozzatto. GreenEdge out the front. 1km to go. Sharp bend comes soon!
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Roar Guru
3kms to go. A Sky rider moves up to the front with Pozzatto, an Astana rider and Euskatel. Attack after attack. It will disrupt sprint trains but not a bunch sprint. This kind of finish suits Goss.
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Roar Guru
This will end in a bunch sprint for sure. 4kms to go and the "climb" wasn't punchy enough. Adroni rider attacks. Pozzatto cranky at people not helping him. What's new?
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Roar Guru
Pozzovivo pulling the peloton behind him. Pozzatto digs. Rodriguez swallowed. 4.9kms. This climb is harder than expected but there'll be a downhill and flat soon. Ryder Hesjedal staying out of trouble by hanging out the front.
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Roar Guru
Rodriguez (Katusha) pulled clear from the other three. But the peloton are moving up nicely. 5kms to go.
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Everyone breathes a sigh of relief as Roberto Ferrari experiences a mechanical. Gets another bike, tries to get back to the peloton. He won't be in the bunch sprint. Rodriguez is one of the Katusha riders who've pulled clear a bit. 5.5kms to go
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Lotto and Colnago riders pulling away a litlte up this other short climb. Katusha riders also tried to pull clear.
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Roar Guru
A small downhill fastens things up. Garmin strung out a little. 8kms to go. Matt Goss isn't in the best spot yet. Farnese Vini rider Rabottini tries to pull away up a small uphill, but he'll get caught too. 7kms to go.
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Cavendish beside Pozzatto about ten riders back. 9kms to go
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Roar Guru
Garmin are also going for the sprint win for Hunter. Hunter fourth in line of Garmin train. 10kms to go. Vanendert (Lotto Bellisol) tries to pull clear but it won't stick.
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Roar Guru
It is now starting to rain a little. Sky on the right side of the road behin dGarmin, Farnese beside them, LIquigas on the other side of the road
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Roar Guru
Sky tucked in behind Garmin, Lampre now up the front beside Sky. 11.9kms to go. Visconti still not back up to peloton
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GreenEdge on their own train line beside Garmin's.