Super Mario shines in Italy

Mario Cipollini completes a memorable finish

Click here for stage and overall results

Italy's Mario Cipollini claimed victory on the sixth stage of the Giro d'Italia in Rieti on Friday after a thrilling finish.

German rider Danilo Hondo and Italian Massimo Strazzer were outsprinted in the final 300 metres, as the Saeco rider came from behind to win by just two bike lengths.

It was Cipollini's first stage win in this year's Giro d'Italia but the 31st stage victory of his career.

He has now equalled the performance of Learco Guerra who won 31 stages between 1930 and 1937.

Only Italian Alfredo Binda. who won 41 stages between 1925 and 1933, has won more Giro stages.

Frigo has still got hold of the pink jersey

Dario Frigo of the Fassa Bortolo team retained his overall race lead.

Spaniard Abraham Olano of the Once team trails Frigo by 12 seconds and Italian Gilberto Simoni of the Lampre team by 13 seconds.

The stage to Rieti finished 40 minutes later than scheduled after a protest by some of the riders.

They rode slowly in the middle part of the stage unhappy after an official race motorbike had crashed, bringing down six riders.

Five of the riders were not seriously injured but Jesus Manzano of Spain was taken to hospital. He was later discharged after a scan excluded head injuries.

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Giro d'Italia: sixth stage results (150km run from Nettuno to Rieti):

1. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco 4hr 13min 23sec
2. Danilo Hondo (Ger) s.t.
3. Massimo Strazzer (Ita) s.t.
4. Mauro Gerosa (Ita) s.t.
5. Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) s.t.
6. Endrio Leoni (Ita) s.t.
7. Marco Zanotti (Ita) s.t.
8. Alexis Rodriguez (Spa) s.t.
9. Gabriele Missaglia (Ita) s.t.
10. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) s.t.
11. Ruben Marin (Col) s.t.
12. Matteo Carrara (Ita) s.t.
13. Enrico Degano (Ita) s.t.
14. Mariano Piccoli (Ita) s.t.
15. Vladimir Duma (Ukr) s.t.
16. Damien Nazon (Fra) s.t.
17. Mickael Pichon (Fra) s.t.
18. Denis Lunghi (Ita) s.t.
19. Denis Zanette (Ita) s.t.
20. Moreno Di Biase (Ita) s.t.

Selected:
25. Abraham Olano (Spa) s.t.
27. Marco Pantani (Ita) s.t.
36. Dario Frigo (Ita) s.t.
60. Ivan Gotti (Ita) s.t.
77. Jan Ullrich (Ger) s.t.
95. Davide Rebellin (Ita) s.t.
140. Hidenori Nodera (Jpn) s.t.

Withdrew: Jesus Manzano (Spa), Carlos Garcia (Spa)

Overall Standings:

1. Dario Frigo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 27hr 03min 58sec
2. Abraham Olano (Spa) at 12sec
3. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) 13
4. Wladimir Belli (Ita) 17
5. Jose Azevedo (Por) 19
6. Giuseppe Di Grande (Ita) 25
7. Jan Hruska (Cze) 28
8. Vladimir Duma (Ukr) 33
9. Oscar Camenzind (Swi) 35
10. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) 38
11. Andrea Noe (Ita) 42
12. Serhiy Honchar (Ukr) 47
13. Danilo Di Luca (Ita) 48
14. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) 57
15. Ivan Gotti (Ita) 1min 02sec
16. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) 1:03
17. Unai Osa (Spa) 1:06
18. Marco Pantani (Ita) 1:09
19. Marco Velo (Ita) 1:15
20. Paolo Lanfranchi (Ita) 1:25

Selected:
34. Davide Rebellin (Ita) at 2min 13sec
73. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 10:57
103. Mario Cipollini (Ita) 16:51
154. Hidenori Nodera (Jpn) 31:09