Simoni takes overall lead

Simoni (r) leads as they climb past the Fedaia pass

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Gilberto Simoni is the new leader of the Giro d'Italia after finishing second behind Mexican Julio Perez in the 13th stage of the race on Friday.

After the first mountain stage of the three-week race, Simoni took the race leader's pink jersey from fellow Italian Dario Frigo, who had held the overall lead since the fourth stage.

The 225-km stage included three major climbs in the Dolomite mountains with a uphill finish at the 2057 metre summit of the Passo Pordoi.

Simoni finished in the same time as Perez but importantly was 45 seconds ahead of Frigo.

Thanks to the time bonuses awarded to the first three riders on each stage (12, 8 and 4 seconds), Simoni took the race lead by 43 seconds.

Another Italian, Wladimir Belli, is third overall after finishing seventh on the stage 1:01 behind Perez and Simoni and is 1:27 behind in the overall standings.

Several of the expected contenders lost large amounts of time in the stage and now have little chance of winning the race.

Last year's winner Stefano Garzelli lost 13:52, and is now 32nd overall at 14:58. Italian favourite Marco Pantani, a winner in 1998, lost 6:46 and slipped down the standings to 18th, 8:04 behind Simoni.

Other big losers included Danilo Di Luca, who is now in 17th place at 7:29.

Germany's Jan Ullrich who is using the Giro d'Italia as training for the Tour de France race in July, finished 30:31 behind. He rode in the main field all day and is 80th overall, 54:42 behind.

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Leading placings

1. Julio Perez (Mexico) Panaria 7 hours 24 minutes 48 seconds
2. Gilberto Simoni (Italy) Lampre same time
3. Dario Frigo (Italy) Fassa Bortolo 45 seconds behind
4. Hernan Buenahora (Colombia) Selle Italia 48
5. Carlos Contreras (Colombia) Selle Italia 49
6. Unai Osa (Spain) ibanesto.com 57
7. Wladimir Belli (Italy) Fassa Bortolo 1:01
8. Ivan Gotti (Italy) Alessio 1:03
9. Joaquim Castelblanco (Colombia) Selle Italia 2:16
10. Abraham Olano (Spain) Once 3:02
11. Andrea Noe (Italy) Mapei
12. Sergej Honchar (Ukraine) Liquigas both same time
13. Marzio Bruseghin (Italy) ibanesto.com 4:15
14. Peter Luttenberger (Austria) Tacconi Sport 4:46
15. Paolo Savoldelli (Italy) Saeco
16. Pietro Caucchioli (Italy) Alessio
17. Tadej Valjavec (Slovenia) Fassa Bortolo
18. Aleksander Shefer (Kazakistan)
19. Pascal Herve (France) Alexia
20. Jose Azevedo (Portugal) Once all same time

Leading overall standings:

1. Gilberto Simoni (Italy) Lampre 63:23:15
2. Frigo 48 seconds behind
3. Belli 1:27
4. Osa 1:52
5. Gotti 2:14
6. Buenahora 2:19
7. Contreras 2:36
8. Olano 3:23
9. Noe 3:53
10. Azevedo 4:56
11. Honchar 5:03
12. Caucchioli 6:01
13. Giuliano Figueras (Italy) Panaria 6:38
14. Shefer 6:47
15. Casteblanco 6:49
16. Luttenberger 7:21
17. Danilo Di Luca (Italy) Cantina Tollo 7:29
18. Marco Pantani (Italy) Mercatone Uno 8:04
19. Marco Magnani (Italy) Alexia 8:05
20. Marco Velo (Italy) Mercatone Uno 8:10