Katusha rider Joaquim Rodriguez retained the pink leader’s jersey and his 17 second lead over closest challenger Ryder Hesjedal after the 13th stage of the Giro d’Italia on Friday.
Britain’s Mark Cavendish took the stage win as his Sky team broke away two kilometers from the finish of the 121-kilometer flat stage, widely seen as an easier day’s racing before the Giro enters the Alps on Saturday.
There were no changes near the top of the standings, meaning that France’s Sandy Casar, who won the 12th stage Thursday, remains third, 32 seconds behind Rodriguez.
Rodriguez took the took the pink jersey Tuesday after winning the medium mountain 10th stage of the race, the first time that a rider for the Russian Katusha team has led the Giro d’Italia.
