ROME, April 24, 2009 (AFP) – South Africa’s Robbie Hunter, riding for Barloworld, won Friday’s 160km third stage of the Giro del Trentino with Janez Brajkovic of Slovenia retaining the overall lead.

Hunter prevailed in a sprint to the finish in Innervillgraten, Austria, clear of Italian duo Stefano Garzelli (Acqua e Sapone) and Danilo Di Luca (LPR).

Di Luca, the winner of the 2007 Tour of Italy, was ably assisted by his team’s ‘domestiques’ in the closing kilometres, but Hunter proved up to the task.

Brajkovic, who in the end finished in the leading pack in 22nd place, holds a four second advantage over Spaniard Ivan Brasso (18th on Friday) in the overall standings.

Saturday’s fourth and final stage, featuring two climbs, is a 212.2km run from Sillian in Austria back across the Italian border to Pejo Fonti.

- Leading results of the third stage of the Giro del Trentino, a 160km run from Tesero to Innervillgraten, Austria, on Friday:

1. Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloword 4hr 09min 16sec, 2. Stefano Garzelli (ITA) Acqua e Sapone s.t., 3. Danilo Di Luca (ITA) LPR s.t., 4. Jackson Rodriguez
(VEN) Diquigiovanni s.t., 5. Pasquale Muto (ITA) Miche s.t.

Overall standings
1. Janez Brajkovic (SLO) Astana 8hr 19min 23sec, 2. Ivan Basso (ITA) Liquigas at 04s, 3. Przemyslaw Niemec (POL) Miche 19, 4. Gilberto Simoni (ITA) Diquigiovanni 1:00, 5. Branislau Samoilau (BLR) Amica Chips s.t.
Selected
6. Stefano Garzelli (ITA) Acqua e Sapone 1:07, 14. Danilo Di Luca (ITA) LPR
2:07

Photo by: CorVos Pro