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Stage 18

Ukrainian Sergei Gontchar won the 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday.

Sergei Gontchar

Ukranian Serij Honchar rides during the 18th 45 km time trial stage of the Giro D'Italia in Treviso June 2. Honchar won while Italian Paolo Savoldelli was second and French rider Laurent Jalabert third. Italian Marco Pantani retains the overall race leadership. pc/Photo by Paolo Cocco REUTERS

Marco Pantani

Italian Marco Pantani rides during the 18th 45 km time trial stage of the Giro D'Italia cycling race in Treviso June 2. Ukranian Serij Honchar won while Italian Paolo Savoldelli was second and Frenchman Laurent Jalabert was third. pc/Photo by Paolo Cocco REUTERS

He completed the 45 km time trial in 52 minutes and 55 seconds ahead of Italian Paolo Savoldelli in 53:12 and Frenchman Laurent Jalabert in 53:36. Italy's Marco Pantani finished seventh fastest in 54:33 to retain the overall lead by 44 seconds.

Pantani conquers personal summit

By Mike Price

TREVISO, Italy, June 2 (Reuters) - Marco Pantani climbed his biggest 'mountain' on Wednesday to carry the pink jersey of Giro d'Italia leader into the Dolomites.

Fellow Italian Paolo Savoldelli unexpectedly came closest to unseating the Italian in the 45 km time trial, but Pantani escaped with 44 seconds in hand on his rival.

Pantani knew his overnight lead of two minutes five seconds on Savoldelli would be under serious threat from the solo specialists, notably Frenchman Laurent Jalabert.

But it was Savoldelli who produced the remarkable performance. He finished only 17 seconds slower than Ukrainian winner Sergei Gontchar.

Former world time trial number one Jalabert had declared that this was his last chance to regain the leader's colours but his time of 53 minutes 36 seconds was only good enough for third.

Pantani, urged on by hundreds of his fans, clocked the seventh fastest time. He was 1:38 slower than Gontchar, whose 51 kph ride was his ninth time trial success in 10 victories as a professional.

I just want to finish as high as I can in the final results," said Gontchar, "but the next three days are the hardest."

Savoldelli was happy but was hoping that he does not pay in the mountains for his efforts in the time trial.

He said: "As the Giro nears its end it is the riders who are freshest that can make a difference.

I just hope that I have something left otherwise it is going to be even harder for me over the next three days."

Pantani will be in his element on Thursday as the riders begin to tackle 119 km of mountain roads with an estimated total climbing distance of 8,745 metres -- almost the height of Everest.

"I had to race at 100 per cent. I could not risk anything," said Pantani. "I need the racing to be tough in the mountains, so that I can gain more time. I have not got enough to spare at the moment.

"Someone will have to try something if they want to be in the final top three, and I hope to profit from that."

After more than 3,000 km of racing, the riders face a cruel showdown with Thursday's stage punctuated by the 2,047 metres Passo Manghen, the 1,427 metres Cima di Camp and finally the climb to Alpe di Pampeago, a 1,751 metres finish.


TREVISO, Italy, June 2  (Reuters)  - Leading placings in Wednesday's 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, a 45 km time trial:

Stage 18

1. Sergei Gontchar (Ukraine) Vini Caldirola 52 minutes 55 seconds
2. Paolo Savoldelli (Italy) Saeco 17 seconds behind
3. Laurent Jalabert (France) ONCE 41
4. Martin Hvastija (Slovenia) Ballan 42
5. Marco Velo (Italy) Mercatone Uno 57

6. Niklas Axelsson (Sweden) Navigare 1:29
7. Marco Pantani (Italy) Mercatone Uno 1:38
8. Victor Pena (Colombia) Vitalicio Seguros 1:41
9. Andrei Zintchenko (Russia) Vitalicio Seguros 1:50
10. Ivan Gotti (Italy) Polti 2:17

11. Santos Gonzalez (Spain) ONCE 2:18
12. Massimo Podenzana (Italy) Mercatone Uno 2:34
13. Roberto Sgambelluri (Italy) Cantina Tollo same time
14. Paolo Bettini (Italy) Mapei 2:38
15. Andrei Teteriouk (Russia) Liquigas 2:40

16. Evgeny Berzin (Russia) Amica Chips 2:42
17. Vyatcheslav Ekimov (Russia) Amica Chips 2:43
18. Massimo Donati (Italy) Vini Caldirola 2:45
19. Giuseppe di Grande (Italy) Mapei 2:58
20. Pavel Padrnos (Czech Republic) Lampre 3:02

Leading overall standings:

1. Pantani 79 hours 30 minutes 9 seconds
2. Savoldelli 44 seconds behind
3. Jalabert 1:09
4. Gotti 3:12
5. Gontchar 4:19

6. Daniel Clavero (Spain) Vitalicio 4:47
7. Axelsson 6:16
8. Gilberto Simoni (Italy) Ballan 7:22
9. Zintchenko 8:33
10. Velo 9:10

11. Sgambelluri 9:21
12. Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre 9:43
13. Roberto Heras (Spain) Kelme 11:13
14. Di Grande 11:21
15. Nicola Miceli (Italy) Liquigas 11:54

16. Daniele de Paoli (Italy) Amica Chips 11:56
17. Massimo Codol (Italy) Lampre 12:47
18. Oscar Sevilla (Spain) Kelme 13:01
19. Hernan Buenahora (Col) Vitalicio14:17
20. Jose Manuel Uria (Spain) Kelme 15:01