After most of the sprinters exited the Giro during the weekend's mountain festivities, Fassa Bortolo's Alessandro Petacchi had a rails run to the finish in Lissone to win his third stage. After a sodden day that was shortened to 154 km because the weather, a couple of breakaway attempts by Roy Sentjens (Rabobank) and Rafaele Illiano (Colombia-Selle Italia) were reeled in by Fassa Bortolo before Petacchi's silver train regrouped at the front with 6 km to go to lead out Ale-Jet to the finish. Petacchi hit from 250 metres to go to easily win the stage from Erik Zabel (T-Mobile) and Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step).
The maglia rosa stayed firmly on Paolo Savoldelli's shoulders going into tomorrow's rest day, with Danilo Di Luca impressive at 25 seconds and Gilberto Simoni still dangerous at 1'48. Five stages to go, and anything could still happen.
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