More Aussie Giro glory

Cava de' Tirreni - Australian rider Matthew Goss won the ninth stage of the Giro d'Italia on Monday, a 187km ride from Frosinone to Cava de' Tirreni, recording his country's third success in the race this year.

Kazakh veteran Alexandre Vinokourov retained the overall leader's pink jersey while Australia's road race world champion Cadel Evans is in second place.

Goss, 23, and who finished second in the second stage of this year's edition, beat home Italian champion Filippo Pozzato while American Tyler Farrar was third in a sprint finish that was unusually contested also by Evans and Vinokourov.

Russian rider Mikhail Ignatiev had tried to make a clean break 10km from the finish along with Canada's Michael Barry before being swept up five kilometres later.

The peloton while pursuing the duo had been briefly cut in two 15km from the finish as Vinokourov's Astana team upped the pace forcing Evans and another rival for the overall crown Italian Ivan Basso to chase them down.

Tuesday's 10th stage sees the race reach its southernmost point with the 230km ride from Avellino to Bitonto.

Ninth Stage Results:

1. Matthew Goss, Australia, HTC-Columbia, 4 hours, 8 minutes, 17 seconds.
2. Filippo Pozzato, Italy, Katusha, same time.
3. Tyler Farrar, United States, Garmin, same time.
4. Robert Forster, Germany, Milram, same time.
5. Federico Canuti, Italy, Colnago, same time.
6. Sebastien Hinault, France, AG2R, same time.
7. Wouter Weylandt, Belgium, Quickstep, same time.
8. Gregory Henderson, New Zealand, Sky, same time.
9. Jose Van Emden, Netherlands, Rabobank, same time.
10. Markus Eibegger, Australia, Footon-Servetto, same time.

Overall standings (After 9 of 21 Stages):

1. Alexandre Vinokourov, Kazakhstan, Astana, 33 hours, 9 minutes, 43 seconds.
2. Cadel Evans, Australia, BMC, 1 minute, 12 seconds behind.
3. Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas, 1:33.
4. Ivan Basso, Italy, Liquigas, 1:51.
5. Marco Pinotti, Italy, Columbia, 2:17.
6. Richie Porte, Australia, Saxo Bank, 2:26.
7. Vladimir Karpets, Russia, Katusha, 2:34.
8. Stefano Garzelli, Italy, Acqua & Sapone, 2:47.
9. Damiano Cunego, Italy, Lampre, 3:08.
10. Michele Scarponi, Italy, Androni Giocattoli, 3:09.