Hesjedal breathing down on Rodriguez

Astana’s Roman Kreuziger was victorious in yesterday’s 19th stage of the Giro d’Italia, but Joaquin Rodriguez remains at the head of the general classification.

Kreuziger went from Treviso to Alpe di Pampeago in a shade over six hours and 18 minutes, edging out Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Barracuda) by 19 seconds.

Spaniard Rodriquez was next, with Michele Scarponi fourth, ahead of Domenico Pozzovivo.

Hesjedal’s second-placed finish over yesterday’s 198km ride helped him cut Rodriquez’s overall lead to 17 seconds, with today’s mammoth 219km stage set to determine the destination of the pink jersey.

The Caldes to Passo dello Stelvio trek is the third-longest on the schedule and is the prelude to Sunday’s final sprint finish.

Mark Cavendish retains possession of the sprinters’ red jersey, Rigoberto Uran Uran the white and Matteo Rabottini the blue.