'I'm riding the Giro to win it this time' - Simoni

Italy's Gilberto Simoni was forced to ride for young team-mate Damiano Cunego in last year's Giro but yesterday he made it clear that this year he will be riding for himself and is determined to win.

"I'm riding the Giro to win it, not to help other riders win it," he said, referring to Cunego.

"I'm not here to resolve other people's problems. I know there are other people who want to win the Giro but to win it they're going to have to fight for it every metre of the road."

Simoni won the Giro in 2001 and 2003 but was forced to sacrifice his chance for Cunego last year and finished third.

After Sunday's time trial stage to Florence, Simoni is only 10th in the overall standings at the Giro, two minutes and 11 seconds behind race leader Danilo Di Luca.

Ivan Basso and Paolo Savoldelli are second and third overall at nine and 35 seconds respectively.

Simoni is 56 seconds behind Cunego but optimistic about his chances in the three-week race.

"I'm pretty relaxed and didn't honestly think I'd be so well placed," said Simoni. "There are more strong riders in this year's Giro and the riders that are here are riding stronger as well."

"The Giro will be decided in the mountains, stages that start on Thursday. I'm convinced I'm going to do well this year," he added.

On Monday, Alessandro Petacchi won his first sprint of the 2005 Giro in Ravenna to finally end his dry spell without a stage win.

The Fassa Bortolo rider beat compatriot Paolo Bettini and Switzerland's Aurelien Clerc in a mass sprint finish in the centre of Ravenna at the end of the 139 km stage from Florence.

"Winning in Ravenna is special because it's close to the home of my team manager Giancarlo Ferretti," Petacchi said.

"This is probably the stage I wanted to win the most and the stage that meant the most to Ferretti."

Petacchi had been under pressure after struggling in the two earlier Giro sprint finishes but showed he is as strong as ever.

The stage victory was Petacchi's 17th at the Giro and the 96th win of his 10-year career.

Yesterday was the first rest day but Petacchi will have a chance to win a second stage today with the flat 212 km 10th stage from Ravenna to Rossano Veneto near Venice.