Caucchioli wins, Simoni still leads

Simoni was 40 seconds off the pace

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Italy's Pietro Caucchioli soared to his second Giro d'Italia stage win of the year by picking up the 17th stage.

Countryman Gilberto Simoni of the Lampre team held on to the overall lead, despite finishing over 40 seconds behind the main peloton.

Caucchioli, who won stage eight, had to fend off the challenge of Portuguese rider Jose Azevedo who had accompanied him as he launched his attack.

Germany's Jan Ullrich finished third as he tried in vain to catch up with the leaders.

Caucchioli made his breakaway on the second peak in the Liguria region and was soon followed by Azevedo who caught him eight kilometres from the finish.

The aftermath of the race was marred by a series of raids by Italy's drug police on hotels where the respective Giro teams had been staying.

Stage results

1 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Alessio 3hrs 36min 52sec (average speed: 34.030 km/h)
2.Jose Azevedo (Por) at 2sec
3 Jan Ullrich (Ger) 27
4 Gianni Faresin (Ita) 27
5 Matthias Kessler (Ger) 36
6 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) 39
7 Mauro Zanetti (Ita) st
8 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) st
9 Marco Velo (Ita) st
10 Unai Osa (Spa) st
11 Christophe Brandt (Bel) st
12 Abraham Olano (Spa) st
13 Danilo di Luca (Ita) st
14 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) st
15 David Latasa (Spa) st
16 Carlos Contreras (Col) st
17 Andrea Noe (Ita) st
18 Dario Frigo (Ita) st
19 Marco Magnani (Ita) st
20 Serhiy Honchar (Ukr) st

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