• Giro d'Italia, Stage Nine

Evans retains lead as Weening triumphs at summit

ESPN staff
May 18, 2014
Pieter Weening outsprinted Davide Malacarne at the end to win © Getty Images
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Cadel Evans maintained his 57-second lead over Rigoberto Uran at the top of the Giro d'Italia general classification as Pieter Weening claimed victory on the ninth stage.

Orica GreenEdge's Weening took the win after outsprinting Davide Malacarne in an uphill finish in Sestola. The two riders were part of a 14-man break who pushed on early in the day ahead of the three climbs on the stage.

Weening and Malacarne then pulled clear of the breakaway on the steepest part of the summit finish, but it was Weening who emerged victorious after making a sprint for the line.

"The guys were working perfect in the [breakaway] group," Weening said.

"It went slightly uphill and on a roundabout I saw everybody taking the wrong side, and I went full speed on the right side, and I thought 'This is going to be the moment'.

"Malacarne came back and he was really strong. I couldn't drop him and from there I made the decision to wait till the last kilometre. I knew we had enough time in front of the guys behind us, so I could gamble in the last few hundred metres."

Evans heads into the rest day on Monday pleased with the outcome of the ninth stage after increasing his speed in the final 40 kilometres to keep his advantage at the top.

"I think we have to be satisfied with our work today," the 2011 Tour de France winner said. "The guys who are gambling are winning the stages, but I am very happy with the position we are in. I will rest happily tomorrow."

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