Pellizotti takes stage win

Franco Pellizotti emerged triumphant from a gruelling final climb to claim the 17th stage of the Giro d'Italia today.

The Liquigas rider attacked just as the ascent to the finish line on Blockhaus was beginning and held off the challenge of compatriots Stefano Garzelli and Danilo Di Luca and race leader Denis Menchov to secure victory by 42 seconds.

Garzelli eventually won the sprint for second just ahead of home favourite Di Luca, with pink jersey holder Menchov fourth.

It meant that with two decisive stages to go, the Russian's overall lead has been cut to 26 seconds by Di Luca, while Pellizotti moved up to third in the standings with another Italian, Ivan Basso, fourth - both at the expense of Spaniard Carlos Sastre, who fell two places after taking his maiden Giro stage at Monte Petrano on Monday.

Today's stage was a relatively short 83 kilometres, but with almost every single one of them uphill and the Blockhaus summit 1,674 m above sea level it was always going to be a big ask for anyone to overhaul Menchov as things got under way in Chieti.

Thomas Voeckler made the first incisive move of the race, leading an attack after just five kilometres which took a pack of nine riders away from the peloton.

The breakaway managed to extend it's lead to three minutes by the halfway point but was eventually swallowed up by the fast-moving peloton as the climb to Blockhaus started.

Pellizotti emerged as the solitary leader as the gradient got steeper and as he extended his lead with 11 kilometres to go, Di Luca attacked from the chasing group with only Menchov, Basso and Garzelli able to go with him.

Pellizotti's advantage only continued to grow as he neared the finish however, while Di Luca, who appeared to be grimacing in pain, allowed Garzelli to pass him after launching a big final push for the line.

The next stage is tomorrow's 182 kilometres from Sulmona to Benevento, but it is Friday's ride up Mount Vesuvius and the time-trial finale in Rome on Sunday which are likely to prove decisive.