King of the sprinters Alessandro Petacchi struck again to win the eighth stage of the Giro d'Italia today.
It was the Italian's fourth stage success during the first week of this year's race and he is in hailing distance of the modern day record of seven. In another power-house finish, Petacchi outsprinted Robbie McEwen of Australia and Tomas Vaitkus of Lithuania.
McEwen was later relegated to 117th, last of the leading bunch home, for taking a tug on a team mate's jersey to propel himself up the final dash. He was also docked 30 seconds and fined 200 Swiss francs.
Talented 22 year old Damiano Cunego of Italy retained his overall lead with a 10 second advantage on 2003 winner Gilberto Simoni, his Saeco team mate.
But once again it was Petacchi who stole the show, taking the lead with 300 metres to go at the end of the 214 km stage and hanging on grimly.
"The sprint was very long and even rose slightly but I rode an intelligent sprint," said the Italian.
Petacchi won six Giro stages last year and is now eyeing the record books again. The all time mark was set by Alfredo Binda of Italy in 1927 when he won 12 of the 15 stages, but in modern, more comparable times, Roger De Vlaemenick and Freddy Maertens of Belgium and Giuseppe Saronni share the record, winning seven stages in 1975, 1977 and 1980 respectively.
Petacchi lies 86th overall, over 33 minutes off the lead, but he remains set for a high profile second week before the race heads for the mountains in week three.
Monday's 142 km ninth stage from Policoro to Carovigno features a flat 4.3 km finishing circuit and could well mark another Petacchi victory. Tuesday is a rest day.
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
