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Monte Zoncolan - Former champion Ivan Basso of the Liquigas team won the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday, a mammoth 222km which finished on the summit of Monte Zoncolan.
Overnight leader David Arroyo of Spain was left trailing on the early pitches of the Zoncolan climb, whose average gradient was a punishing 11.9%, but managed to retain the race leader's pink jersey.
Basso was winning his first stage in the race since his triumph in 2006, soon after which he was handed a two-year doping ban for his involvement in the 'Operation Puerto' scandal.
Australia's world champion Cadel Evans, of BMC, came in second but lost 1min 20sec to Basso as the Italian moved back up the general classification and into contention for the race's pink jersey.
Italian Michele Scarponi finished third with former champion Damiano Cunego fourth at 1:58, Alexandre Vinokourov fifth at 2:26, Spain's 2008 Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre sixth at 2:44 and Vincenzo Nibali seventh at 3:07.
Monday is a rest day on the race, which resumes on Tuesday with a 12.9km time trial.
Result from the 15th stage:
1. Ivan Basso (ITA/LIQ) 6hr 21min 58sec (average: 35.186 km/h)
2. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) at 1min 19sec
3. Michele Scarponi (ITA/AND) 1:30.
4. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 1:58.
5. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ/AST) 2:26.
6. Carlos Sastre (ESP/CTT) 2:44
7. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/LIQ) 3:07.
8. Marco Pinotti (ITA/THR) 3:20.
9. Daniel Martin (IRL/GRM) 3:31.
10. John Gadret (FRA/ALM) 3:46.
11. Davis Arroyo (ESP/GCE) 3:50.
12. Hubert Dupont (FRA/ALM) 4:04.
Overall standings:
1. David Arroyo (ESP/GCE) 67hr 48min 42sec
2. Richie Porte (AUS/SAX) at 2min 35sec
3. Ivan Basso (ITA/LIQ) 3:33.
4. Carlos Sastre (ESP/CTT) 4:21.
5. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) 4:43.
6. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ/AST) 5:51.
7. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/LIQ) 6:08.
8. Michele Scarponi (ITA/AND) 6:34.
9. Linus Gerdemann (GER/MRM) 7:12.
10. Robert Kiserlovski (CRO/LIQ) 8:13.
11. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 9:19.
