Spain's Carlos Sastre battled back on the final climb of the day to claim victory in the 16th stage of the Giro d'Italia.
Menchov finishes second to keep overall lead
Spain's Carlos Sastre battled back on the final climb of the day to claim victory in the 16th stage of the Giro d'Italia.
The reigning Tour de France champion reeled in Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovych, completing the 237km marathon from Pergola to Monte Petrano in seven hours, 11 minutes and 54 seconds.
Remarkably, this was the 33-year-old Spaniard's first stage win in the Giro.
Popovych looked to be on his way to victory when he raced away from fellow escapees from the peleton Damiano Cunego and Gabriele Bosisio of Italy on the final descent.
But his legs weakened and he fell away rapidly in the closing stages, as Sastre overhauled him in a thrilling climax.
Russia's Denis Menchov eventually finished second to stay top of the overall standings.
Outsprinted
Cervelo team rider Sastre came in 25 seconds ahead of Rabobank's Menchov, who outsprinted Italian duo Danilo Di Luca and Ivan Basso to the line.
The day's action was marked by thePopovych-led breakaway shortly after the start, with Sastre finally overhauling and passing the Ukrainian less than three kilometres from the line.
With the main race favourites grouped together Popovych, accompanied by around 20 other riders at one point, slipped the peloton, opening up a four minute gap with 35km remaining before Sastre and the other big guns hit their straps.
But the final 10.4km climb proved potentially fatal to American Levi Leipheimer's chances of overall victory.
Despite help from his teammate Lance Armstrong, Leipheimer finished almost three minutes behind Sastre to drop from third to sixth in the overall standings.
With five days racing to go, Menchov leads the standings by 39 seconds from Di Luca, with Sastre in third, 2min 19sec adrift.
Tuesday is a rest day.
Stage 16 Result1. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Cervelo ) 7hrs 11mins 54secs
2. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank ) +25
3. Danilo Di Luca (Italy / Team LPR ) +26
4. Ivan Basso (Italy / Liquigas ) +29
5. Stefano Garzelli (Italy / Acqua & Sapone ) +1:19
6. Francesco Masciarelli (Italy / Acqua & Sapone ) +1:21
7. Franco Pellizotti (Italy / Liquigas )
8. Tadej Valjavec (Slovenia / AG2R ) +2:11
9. Jose Serpa (Colombia / Diquigiovanni ) +2:35
10. Lance Armstrong (U.S. / Astana ) +2:51
