• Giro d'Italia, Stage 16

Izagirre grabs maiden stage win

Jon Izagirre won on Tuesday © Getty Images

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Spaniard Jon Izagirre claimed his maiden Grand Tour stage victory in the Giro d'Italia on Tuesday, after attacking a breakaway four kilometres from home.

The Euskaltel rider, 23, made his bid for stage 16 victory on one of the final sharp climbs of the 173-km route, leaving his rivals behind on the ride around the banks of Lake Garda to cross the line first in Falzes.

Italian Alessandro De Marchi was second with Dutchman Stef Clement in third, although both men were a full 16 seconds behind Izagirre, as the majority of the pack opted for a leisurely pace and allowed a handful of competitors to streak out ahead and compete for the stage win.

With the following peloton splintered, Katusha rider Joaquin Rodriguez kept the leader's pink jersey after crossing the line in a pack with his main rivals almost nine minutes adrift of the frontrunners.

It is the second professional win for Izagirre, who is in his second season as a professional rider. Last month, he claimed time trial glory at the Vuelta a Asturias.

Stage 16 result
1. Jon Izagirre (Spa) Euskaltel 4:02:00
2. Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli + 0:00:16
3. Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team + 0:00:16
4. Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team + 0:00:19
5. José Herrada Lopez (Spa) Movistar Team +0:00:21
6. Manuele Boaro (Ita) Team Saxo Bank + 0:00:37
7. Matthias Brandle (Aut) Team NetApp + 0:00:43
8. Nikolas Maes (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep + 0:00:45

General Classification
1. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 69:22:04
2. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Barracuda 0:00:30
3. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:01:22
4. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:01:26
5. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team 0:01:27
6. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:01:36
7. Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:42
8. Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling 0:01:56

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