Menchov still in pink after Vesuvius

Russia's Denis Menchov may have taken a step towards winning the Giro d'Italia by hanging on to the pink leader's jersey with two days left after yesterday's stage 19 climb up Mount Vesuvius. Carlos Sastre, the 2008 Tour de France champion, completed...

Russia's Denis Menchov may have taken a step towards winning the Giro d'Italia by hanging on to the pink leader's jersey with two days left after yesterday's stage 19 climb up Mount Vesuvius.

Carlos Sastre, the 2008 Tour de France champion, completed the 164-km run from Avellino to the famous volcano near Naples in four hours 33 minutes and 23 seconds, to win the stage and move up to fourth overall.

Rabobank's Menchov stuck close to second-placed Danilo Di Luca's wheel as the 2007 winner tried to break away on the climb to the finish line near the volcano's crater.

The LPR rider sprinted in ahead of Menchov on the final straight to cut the Russian's lead to 18 seconds but he may have missed his last chance.

Today, the riders have a relatively easy 203-km stage from Naples to Anagni before the centenary edition of the three-week race finishes with tomorrow's time trial in Rome.

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