Sarmiento steals GiroBio on final day

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Colombian Cayetano Sarmiento took control of the GiroBio on its final stage yesterday in Gaiole in Chianti, Italy. He rode clear over the white gravel roads to distance Italian Manuele Caddeo and take the race lead by three seconds at the finish.

 "I am very happy to take this win, in a race of such importance," said Sarmiento, 22 years old.

Sarmiento gave the GiroBio (the Giro d'Italia for under 27 riders) new life in when it looked like Caddeo would retain his lead. Caddeo started the 156-kilometre stage with 11 seconds on Brit Peter Kennaugh and 44 seconds on Sarmiento.

Caddeo's team kept control for the first seven of eight gravel sectors, but lacked a response to Sarmiento's attack on the Vertine climb ahead of the final sector. Sarmiento rode clear with Gianluca Brambilla at just over 12 kilometres to race.

He crashed at six kilometres remaining and lost contact with his group, which had grown to five, including eventual stage winner Slovenian Kristijan Koren. Sarmiento finished two seconds back and, more importantly, kept a 47-second advantage over Caddeo.

"I was convinced that I had it, and to lose the Giro by three seconds makes me upset," Caddeo told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Kennaugh, winner of the Asiago stage, finished three seconds back on Caddeo and ended the race third overall.