Joaquim Rodriguez wins the 17th stage of the Giro d’Italia 2012
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver of Team Liquigas-Cannondale continued his tremendous form and bagged yet another stage at the Italian Grand Tour.
He rode brilliantly during the 187 kilometre stage 17 of the race and filled his bag with a second victory at the race.
Rodriguez is having a terrific season with numerous top performances to his credit including a first place finish at the La Fleche Wallonne.
The cyclist achieved the second overall position at the Tour of the Basque Country and also claimed the fourth and the fifth stages of the race.
He occupied the sixth overall position during the Tirreno-Adriatico 2012 including a stage 6 victory at the race.
Rodriguez was up against a much better opposition during the 17th stage of the Giro and had to overcome the in-form Ivan Basso and Ryder Hesjedal for the top position.
The trio was amongst the final group of 6 riders and the Spaniard had just enough in his legs as he fired in the final 25 kilometres.
Both, Basso and Hesjedal had no answer to his mighty form and had to settle for the second and the third spots.
Rigoberto Uran Uran of Team Sky, Michele Scarponi of Team Lampre-ISD, Domenico Pozzovivo of Team Colnago-CSF and Benat Intxausti Elorriaga of Team Movistar claimed the four, the fifth, the sixth and the seventh positions in the respective order.
Rodriguez earned 25 important UCI points during the stage while Ivan Basso, Ryder Hesjedal, Rigoberto Uran Uran and Michele Scarponi earned 20, 16, 14 and 12 points respectively.
The 33-year-old is currently leading the stage 1 classifications with Ryder Hesjedal of Team Garmin-Barracuda and Ivan Basso of Team Liquigas-Cannondale holds the second and the third positions.
Top 10 riders after the end of stage 1 classifications are as under,
1
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team
74:46:46
2
Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Barracuda
0:00:30
3
Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
0:01:22
4
Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD
0:01:36
5
Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling
0:02:56
6
Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team
0:03:04
7
Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox
0:03:19
8
Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro Team
0:04:13
9
Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
0:04:38
10
Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling
0:04:42
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