Petacchi makes history

Italy's Alessandro Petacchi entered the record books on Monday, becoming the first rider since countryman Pierino Baffi in 1958 to clinch stage wins in the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana in the same year. Under pouring rain, the Fassa B

Eurosport

Image credit: TNT Sports

Petacchi pulled away from his rivals in the final kilometre of the slippery stage, outsprinting German Erik Zabel and Belgian Tom Boonen, who each finished second and third respectively.

The stage was ideal sprinting grounds, featuring only two easy, category three climbs. After a four-man breakaway was reeled in just before Santander, a bunch sprint became virtually inevitable as the sprinters' teams took control of the pack.

Spanish rider Joaquin Rodriguez, who finished 29th with the same time as Petacchi, retained the overall leader's jersey ahead of ONCE team mate Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano.

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