Basso takes Giro lead

Italy's Ivan Basso won the 171-km eighth stage of the Giro d'Italia yesterday and took the overall race lead. The CSC rider attacked four kilometres from the finish at the summit of the Passo Lanciano and finished 30 seconds ahead of compatriot Damiano...

Italy's Ivan Basso won the 171-km eighth stage of the Giro d'Italia yesterday and took the overall race lead.

The CSC rider attacked four kilometres from the finish at the summit of the Passo Lanciano and finished 30 seconds ahead of compatriot Damiano Cunego and Spain's Jose Gutierrez.

In the overall standings Basso leads Gutierrez by one minute and 34 seconds. Cunego is third at 1:48. After two hilly stages, today's 127-km ninth stage is from Francavilla al Mare to Termoli and is expected to end in a mass sprint.

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