Stage win for Monier

Frenchman Damien Monier attacked on the final climb to claim victory on stage 17 of the Giro d’Italia today.

The Confidis rider launched an attack with three kilometres remaining to finish the 173km stage from Bruneck to Peio Terme 36 seconds ahead of Danilo Hondo (Lampre) with Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) three further back.

Spain’s David Arroyo (Caisse d’Epargne) retained the race leader’s pink jersey to lie two minutes 27 seconds ahead of Ivan Basso (Liquigas). Richie Porte (Saxo Bank) is third overall, a further nine seconds back.

Monier was part of a 19-man group which broke away just before the first climb of the day up the Passo della Palade.

That group remained together until 28km from the line when Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha) attacked only to be quickly reeled in.

Monier, Kruijswijk and Hondo successfully pulled away, though, as they came to the steepest ascent of the day to the finish line.

And it was the French rider who proved the strongest, holding off the challenge of Kruijswijk, who was pipped for second by Hondo.

Daniel Moreno (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and Briton Steven Cummings (Sky) led the chasing pack home in fourth and fifth.

Simone Stortoni (Colnago – CSF Inox), Alexander Efimkin (AG2R La Mondiale), (Marco Marzano (Lampre-Farnese Vini), Carlos Jose Ochoa (Androni Giocattoli) and Nicki Sorensen (Saxo Bank) completed the top 10.

Tomorrow’s 18th stage sees the peloton travel 156km from Levico Terme to Brescia.