Italian Leonardo Bertagnolli broke from the pack late on to win the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia in sweltering heat yesterday.

The Italian completed the 161-km route in four hours 18 minutes and 34 seconds with Serge Pauwels, of the Cervelo team, second and Marco Pinotti coming in third.

Rabobank's Russian rider Denis Menchov, 16th on the day, retained the leader's jersey and is 34 seconds ahead of 2007 winner Danilo Di Luca and 45 in front of Astana's US rider Levi Leipheimer.

Pre-race favourite Ivan Basso, the 2006 champion, stayed just over three minutes behind the leader.

Lance Armstrong, competing in his first Giro after recovering from a broken collarbone, was nearly three minutes behind Bertagnolli and lies 13th overall.

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