(source Eurosport.co.uk)

Italy’s Leonardo Piepoli of the Saunier Duval team won the 17th stage of the Giro d’Italia from Termeno to Passo di Furcia on Wednesday. Piepoli completed the shortened stage ahead of overall leader Ivan Basso and Spain’s Jose Enrique Gutierrez of team Phonak.

Piepoli and Basso rode the final kilometre together after the tough conditions took its toll on the rest of the front runners.

Piepoli crossed the line in a time of three hours and 21 minutes and 26 seconds to claim his second stage victory of this year’s Giro - he won stage 13.

Basso, who was on Piepoli’s back wheel to the line, was not going to contest the final few metres and was content with second place clocking the same time.

Gutierrez rolled over the line 15 seconds back which assured him keeping second place in the overall standings.

Paolo Savoldelli was dealt a heavy blow after suffering the rhythm towards the end and falling off the pace of the riders out front.

Going into the stage the Discovery rider was holding onto third place in the overall classification with a margin of 17 seconds over his fellow countryman Gilberto Simoni of Suanier Duval.

But the Saunier Duval leader held his nerve to cross the line over 35 seconds ahead of Savoldelli, edging him into fourth overall.