• Giro d'Italia, Stage Seven

Wiggins' hopes slip away, Hansen wins

Bradley Wiggins suffered a crash towards the end © Getty Images

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Sir Bradley Wiggins' hopes of winning a maiden Giro d'Italia were dealt a major blow as the Briton fell more than a minute behind his main rivals after stage seven of the event - as Adam Hansen coasted to victory on a tough day for the riders.

Wiggins suffered a crash in the slippery conditions on a tight right-hand bend five kilometres from the end of a difficult 177-kilometre ride from San Salvo to Pescara.

The Tour de France champion was able to get back onto his bike, but knew serious damage had been done to his dreams of a first triumph at the Giro.

Wiggins is now 1:32 behind new leader Benat Intxausti in the general classification having been 34 seconds off the top, and he hopes he can recover in Saturday's individual time trial.

Hansen was the rider who emerged unscathed from the day to win the stage by a minute and seven seconds, as previous pink jersey holder Luca Paolini finished in the same group as Wiggins.

Stage Seven, San Salvo to Pescara
1. Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto 4:35:49"
2. Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani Valvole +1:07"
3. Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Vini Fantini
4. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini
5. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale
6. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing
7. Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Bardiani Valvole
8. Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ
9. Pieter Weening (Net) Orica
10. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin

General classification after stage seven
1. Benat Intxausti (Spa) Movistar 28:30:04"
2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana +5"
3. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin +8"
4. Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha +10"
5. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini +13"
6. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing +16"
7. Robert Gesink (Net) Blanco +19"
8. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing +28"
9. Pieter Weening (Net) Orica +29"
10. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) RadioShack +34"

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