Pellizotti rules at Blockhaus

Franco Pellizotti took a superb solo victory at the Blockhaus summit finish on stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia.

Menchov retains pink jersey

Liquigas rider Franco Pellizotti took a solo victory at the Blockhaus summit finish on stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia. The Italian held off a number of top riders in the closing stages of the short 83-kilometre route from Chieti to cross the finish line alone, 42 seconds ahead of Acqua and Sapone's Stefano Garzelli. Rabobank's Denis Menchov retained the leader's pink jersey after finishing fourth on the stage, 48 seconds behind Pellizotti. But Menchov lost five seconds to LPR's Danilo Di Luca, who finished third just one second behind Garzelli. Home favourite Di Luca now trails Menchov by just 26 seconds in the general classification with four days remaining. The three-week race finishes in Rome on Sunday. Stage 17 results: 1. Franco Pellizotti (Italy / Liquigas) 2 hrs 21 mins 6 secs
2. Stefano Garzelli (Italy / Acqua & Sapone) +42 secs
3. Danilo Di Luca (Italy / Team LPR) +43"
4. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank) +48"
5. Ivan Basso (Italy / Liquigas) +57"
6. Marzio Bruseghin (Italy / Lampre) +1:54"
7. Sylwester Szmyd (Poland / Liquigas) +1:55"
8. Michael Rogers (Australia / Columbia) +1:59"
9. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Cervelo) "
10. Lance Armstrong (U.S. / Astana) same time