Pagliarini Wins Sixth Stage In California When Cavendish Penalized

By editor on February 23rd, 2008

Pagliarini wins sixth stage in California when Cavendish penalized

Stage 6 Finish Line

Photo by: Dave Lieberman

SANTA CLARITA, California, Feb 23, 2008 (AFP) - Luciano Pagliarini won the sixth stage of the Tour of California on Saturday, after a 20-second penalty cost Mark Cavendish the victory he had apparently claimed in a sprint finish.

There was no change in the overall standings, with American Levi Leipheimer of Astana retaining the leader’s yellow jersey as the race heads into its seventh and final stage on Sunday, a 150km run into Pasadena on the northern edge of Los Angeles.

Cavendish appeared to take the honors in the 169.6km stage from Santa Barbara, which included four King of the Mountains climbs and two sprints.

But the Team High Road rider was penalized for hanging onto a team car when trying to rejoin the peloton after a crash on the finishing circuits that involved several Rock Racing riders, including Mario Cipollini and Freddie Rodriguez.

Saunier’s Pagliarini got the stage, in 4hr 18min 31sec, followed by CSC’s Argentinian rider Juan Jose Haedo with Italian world champion Paolo Bettini of Quick Step third, all in the same time.

Leipheimer remained 49 seconeds in front of Briton David Millar in the overall standings, with American Christian Vandevelde 1:08 back in third.

Six riders - Christophe Le Mevel, Steven Cozza, Karsten Kroon, Rory Sutherland, David Canada Gracia and Alexandre Pichot - established a gap of more than seven minutes on the field, but were reeled in on the finishing circuits as Astana riders, in particular, worked to protect Leipheimer’s lead.

OVERALL RESULTS

STAGE RESULTS

PENALTY EXPLANATION:

Fines Article 12.1.040 UCI Regulations

Sheltering behind or falling into the slipstream of a vehicle (19.2.2 & 12.1.021) 20 second penalty for the stage and a fine of 50 CHF.

32 GBR19850521 CAVENDISH, Mark, Team High Road

164 ITA19670322 CIPOLLINI, Mario, Rock Racing

Sheltering behind or falling into the slipstream of a vehicle (19.2.2) a fine of 200 CHF.

Brian HOLM, Team High Road

Mariano FRIEDICK, Rock Racing

Both riders were involved in a crash. Following the crash the two riders were assisted by their respective team cars in rejoining the peleton.

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