London, May 13 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian cyclist Maxim Belkov has won the ninth stage of the Giro d'Italia grand tour with a stunning breakaway ride.
Belkov and two other riders broke off from the peloton early on with the aim of scoring points on the climbs but the Russian managed to shed them and hold on until the end, building up a gigantic seven-minute lead at one point Sunday.
It is the second stage win of this year's Giro for Belkov's Katusha team after one earlier for Luca Paolini.
"Belkov came to this stage with a cool head and did what he needed to do, showed everyone what he's capable of," Katusha general manager Vyatcheslav Ekimov said.
Vincenzo Nibali continues to wear the pink leader's jersey, as one of his main rivals, Bradley Wiggins, lost time again with poor descents.
--IANS/RIA Novosti
ss/mj
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app