The Haverstraw Police held their “Cops and Kids Bicycle Safety Program” at the Haverstraw Community Center May 14, 2009. The inspected bikes, handed out and adjusted helmets and gave safety riding instructions to the kids. Here’s a photo gallery by Peter Carr, click the photo to see more.

The Westchester Cycle Club wants your used bike or sewing machine for their upcoming Pedals for Progress campaign. So if you’re cleaning out the garage this weekend and would like to donate your old bike please think about donating it May 23rd at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Brewster. If you cannot make it to Brewster next Saturday you could also drop the bike off at Pleasantville High School on Tuesday where a collection will be taken. An eighth-grade class is holding a mini-drive for bikes which will be come part of the WCC drive. Also Metro Cycles, 632 Main Street in New Rochelle will take your bike anytime this week.

This is the fourth year the club has done this and they have sent over 900 bikes and 50 sewing machines to developing counties. This year WCC Presdident David Wilson is working with Hugo Montez, who immigrated from Guatemala six years ago. The bikes will be sent to Guatemala where they will provide valuable transport and play for children and adults.

You will also be asked to contribute $10 to help cover shipping the bike or sewing machine to Guatemala. Both the value of the bike (about half of the purchase price) and $10 is tax-deductible.

Your bike does not have to be in perfect running order but should be repairable. If the frame is rusted forget it, but flat tires or bad cables are ok. Disassembled bike will not be taken.

If you do not have a way to move a bike for donation let me know and I’ll find away to pick up your bike or bicycles.

ANDREW DAMPF, AP Sports Writer, CHIAVENNA, Italy (AP)  Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway won the rainy seventh stage of the Giro d’Italia on Friday, beating four riders in a sprint finish on a slippery road.

Danilo Di Luca of Italy kept the overall leader’s pink jersey, with most of the favorites staying with the main pack to avoid accidents as the race left Austria and returned to Italy. Lance Armstrong finished 142nd, 58 seconds behind, and lost another 18 seconds to the overall leaders.

Boasson Hagen, who rides for Team-Columbia-High Road and is Norway’s national time trial champion, covered the 152 miles in 5 hours, 56 minutes, 53 seconds. Robert Hunter of South Africa was second and Pavel Brutt of Russia was third, both with the same time as Boasson Hagen. The main pack was 40 seconds behind.

Overall results were calculated 1.86 miles from the finish to let riders not interested in contesting the sprint avoid falls on the slick surface.

Di Luca, the 2007 Giro winner, maintained a five-second lead on Thomas Lovkvist in the overall standings, with Michael Rogers third, 36 seconds back. Armstrong’s Astana teammate Levi Leipheimer remained fourth overall, 43 seconds behind. Armstrong stayed 25th, but his gap behind Di Luca increased to 4:31.

Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France champion, returned this season after 3½ years of retirement and is still regaining his form after surgery in March for a broken collarbone.

Eight of the nine Astana riders protested the Kazakhstan squad’s lack of salary payments by wearing faded jerseys so the sponsor names could not be seen.

“It’s definitely not a good sign,” Di Luca said. “It’s the richest team in the world and the team that spends the most. … Maybe they’ll find a new sponsor or maybe Armstrong will take over the team.”

Boasson Hagen finished second to Michele Scarponi in Thursday’s stage and won the prestigious Ghent-Wevelgem this season.

“I like the classics, but it’s special to win at the Giro. This is my first (big) tour,” said Boasson Hagen, whose victory in Belgium also came in the rain. “I don’t like it when it rains because it’s cold, but I ride well.”

The stage began in Innsbruck, Austria, crossed through Switzerland past the St. Moritz ski resort and concluded with a steep and dangerous downhill run made even trickier by the rain. Riders covered up with gloves and jackets to keep warm, with the temperature falling to 45 degrees at one point.

“It was really dangerous on all the corners,” Boasson Hagen said. “I’m glad we stayed upright.”

Four riders — Bartosz Huzarski, Mauro Facci, Sergei Klimov and Vladimir Isaichev — broke away at the start and gained a nine-minute lead after only 15 miles.

The breakaway riders were caught on the climb to the Maloja pass after nearly 125 miles. Lorenzo Bertolini attacked on the descent toward the Italian border, but Boasson Hagen, Hunter, Brutt and Davide Vigano caught up and set up a sprint.

Stage 8 on Saturday is a 130-mile leg from Morbegno to Bergamo, near Milan. The race ends May 31 in Rome.

ANDREW DAMPF, AP Sports Writer, INNSBRUCK, Austria (AP)  Lance Armstrong and other riders of the Astana team protested the Kazakhstan squad’s lack of salary payments by fading out the sponsors on their jerseys in the Giro d’Italia on Friday.

“I explained the situation of the team to the federation of Kazkhstan before the Giro and I asked certain questions and asked for certain solutions. And those solutions didn’t come,” Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel said. “We’re an important factor in the race and we don’t want to pretend as if everything is OK. It’s not OK.”

While Armstrong is no longer in the hunt for overall victory, Astana’s Levi Leipheimer is in fourth place, 43 seconds behind leader Danilo Di Luca.

Eight of the nine riders on the team committed to the protest for the seventh stage, which began in Austria.

“I’ve talked about it with the riders since the beginning of the Giro and they are not happy,” Bruyneel said. “I’m trying to keep them motivated in the race, but at the same time if you’re doing your job you want to be respected. This is a decision we made together. I didn’t force anyone to wear this jersey.”

The only Kazakh rider for Astana at the Giro, Andrey Zeits, rode without altering his jersey.

“I left him the decision and he doesn’t want to take that responsibility and I think that’s correct,” Bruyneel said.

Riders did not comment on the protest.

The International Cycling Union has given Astana a May 31 deadline to straighten out its financial situation or risk suspension.

Astana receives most of its financial support from Kazakh state holding company Samruk-Kazyna, but the Central Asian nation’s economy has been badly hit by the ongoing global financial crisis.

“The riders have only received two months of salary,” Bruyneel said. “They are here riding a very good race and we cannot pretend nothing is happening. I hope this has an effect and a solution will be found.”

Armstrong indicated last week that he was talking to U.S.-based sponsors about taking over the team himself. That may be his only solution if he wants to go for an eighth Tour de France title in July.

“We’re definitely looking into all our options,” said Bruyneel, who would likely partner with Armstrong in such a venture.

Bruyneel directed Armstrong for each of his seven Tour de France wins, previously with the U.S. Postal and Discovery Channel teams. Armstrong is riding for free this season after three and a half years of retirement.

The only logos visible on the faded jerseys were those for KazMunayGas, as well as Trek bicycles, SRAM components and Armstrong’s cancer foundation, Livestrong.

”(KazMunayGas) have paid. All the other sponsors from Kazakhstan have not paid,” Bruyneel said, adding that the protest would go on until the payments are made. “It needs to be fixed — completely.

“At the end, I have to give explanations to the riders and the staff of what’s going on. I’ve told them the truth: I didn’t get the answers I needed to get before the Giro. Now of course I got reactions since last night. But that’s still words. Until I see something happen that’s still a long way.”

ANDREW DAMPF, AP Sports Writer,  MAYRHOFEN IM ZILLERTAL, Austria (AP) Danilo Di Luca of Italy retained the overall Giro d’Italia lead, Lance Armstrong lost time again and Michele Scarponi won the sixth stage on Thursday.

Di Luca, of LPR Brakes, maintained a 5-second lead over Thomas Lovkvist of Sweden in the overall standings. Lovkvist’s Columbia-High Road teammate Michael Rogers is third, 36 seconds behind.

“Today was harder than it looked,” Di Luca said. “What Scarponi did was impressive. We didn’t have any interest in chasing him down. We only wanted to defend the pink jersey today.”

Scarponi of the Diquigiovanni team, covered the 154-mile leg in 5 hours, 49 minutes, 55 seconds after a long breakaway as the race crossed into Austria.

Armstrong was 1:15 behind Scarponi. The seven-time Tour de France champion dropped from 22nd to 25th overall, 4:13 behind Di Luca.

Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway finished second, 32 seconds behind Scarponi, and Allan Davis of Australia was third, also 32 seconds back.

All of the race favorites — including Di Luca, Ivan Basso and Levi Leipheimer — finished with the main pack, 36 seconds after Scarponi.

The stage began in Bressanone, Italy, and covered two climbs before a technical downhill section and a fast finish through a tight circuit under sunny skies.

Scarponi and four other riders attacked at the 34-mile mark and the Italian left behind his last breakaway companion — Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus — with 3.1 miles remaining.

“Yesterday I lost all my chances for (overall victory), so I wanted to try to attack today to make amends,” Scarponi said. “Kiryienka was a big help. I couldn’t have made it without him.”

Scarponi returned this season after an 18-month ban for involvement in the Spanish doping scandal Operation Puerto. He won the weeklong Tirreno-Adriatico race in March.

The top 10 overall positions were unchanged from Wednesday.

Armstrong’s Astana teammate Levi Leipheimer crossed 20th and remained fourth overall, 43 seconds behind Di Luca.

“It’s no secret that Leipheimer is a threat. Especially with the time trial that is so long,” Di Luca said, looking ahead to the 12th stage next week, a 37.6-mile highly technical race against the clock along the coastal area known as Cinque Terre. “It’s not a typical time trial. Levi and Rogers will be very dangerous that day.

Armstrong got caught behind with a large group of riders when the pack split on the steep descent.

He returned this season after 3½ of retirement, and he broke his collarbone in March. He is riding his first Giro to regain his condition for an attempt at an eighth Tour victory in July.

The race stays overnight in Austria with the seventh stage starting in Innsbruck, crossing into Switzerland and then back into Italy to Chiavenna. The 151.6-mile leg finishes with a long downhill section.

The race ends May 31 in Rome.

The Associated Press put this great list of websites together to help cyclists find safe routes  to ride. Cycling Central will also help with suggestions if you’re looking for routes in the lower Hudson Valley. Just use the comment button below the post and ask other readers for ideas on roads to ride and roads to stay away from.

If you’re thinking of biking to work, co-workers and the local bike shop can be great resources for finding the best routes. Another option is at your fingertips; there are many user-generated Web sites that offer bike routes and other suggestions.

Here are a few worth considering.

—LOCAL SITES — Most major cities have one or more Web sites dedicated to mapping bike routes or biking topics in the area. In New York City, for instance, RideTheCity.com helps people find the shortest, biker-friendly routes between any two points. Even if you can’t find a site that gives you a route for your particular commute, you’re likely to uncover good insider biking tips for the region.

—MAPMYRIDE.COM — You can search for routes by zip code and distance and get details about the path’s terrain. The site is free, but you need to register for an account to access your saved routes. As with most biking sites, it’s largely user generated, meaning all routes are posted by fellow bikers. The site also lets you plot out routes (via Google Maps) between any two addresses.

—MOTIONBASED.COM — The site lists routes for cycling, hiking and running. It’s intended to work with Garmin International’s athletic GPS devices, which range from $150 to $650.

You need a Garmin device to upload routes, but anyone can log on to peruse publicly posted routes. The site is free, but you need to register.

—PEDALING.COM — Focused on recreational bike routes, this site could be a good resource if you’re looking for options other than your workday routine. You can search for local routes by distance, difficulty and terrain. The site also gives photos of the trails in some instances.

CANDICE CHOI, AP Personal Finance Writer,  NEW YORK (AP) Bike to work, save money, get fit, help the environment. It seems like a no-brainer, yet you still drive to the office every day.

One reason for putting off your bike-to-work resolution might be all the logistics involved, such as where to store your bike and how to get your belongings to and from the office.

If the goal is to save money, you might be reluctant to spend hundreds of dollars on a bike and equipment before knowing you can stick with the habit.

In the photo, Karin Weisburgh of Larchmont was recognized as “bike-commuter of the year” by the Westchester Cycle Club in 2008. She bikes from Larcmont to her job at Consumers Union in Yonkers.  ( Mark Vergari / The Journal News )

All are valid reservations, but none are necessarily deal breakers. Besides the obvious benefits, biking to work could even boost your job performance.

“On the days that I ride in, I sit down and have the energy to start. I don’t need to go get a Coke or anything — I’m already in that mode,” said Jason Kiker, a 38-year-old research analyst who started biking to work last year.

The 7 mile-trip from his home in Arlington, Va. to the education nonprofit where he works takes about 35 minutes. That’s about 10 minutes faster than taking public transit.

As the weather warms up, the reasons for procrastinating are dwindling. Here’s a rundown of some common excuses and why they shouldn’t stop you.

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EXCUSE 1: I’M NOT SURE IT’S RIGHT FOR ME

It’s natural to think twice about any major purchase. After all, you don’t want a shiny new bike sitting around in a dusty corner of your home.

One way to prevent such a fate is to rent or borrow. The try-before-you-buy strategy also lets you test different models before making a commitment.

“It lets you put your toe in the water and see if you really like it,” said George Gill, president of RentABikeNow.com, a Chicago-based company that lists rental shops nationwide.

If you can’t find a friend or co-worker to lend you a bike, check if there’s a rental shop nearby. A one-week rental might run you about $150, Gill said. Ask about daily rates if the price you’re quoted is too high.

Do a weekend test ride to get an idea of how long and physically taxing the trip will be. Beginners probably don’t want to go too far beyond a 10-mile, one-way ride, which might take about 45 minutes, Gill said.

If your office is far, consider a hybrid commute. It might sound complicated, but plenty of people bike part of a commute and take public transit for the remainder.

EXCUSE 2: I’M WORRIED THE COSTS WILL OUTWEIGH SAVINGS

Even though biking can save money in the long run, there are still significant upfront costs.

Prices vary widely, but a basic bike could cost as much as $500, Gill said. Equipment and add-ons could tack on another $200 or $300.

If the bike’s main purpose is for commuting, you can probably stick with a traditional bike. Beginners might want to pick a model that lets you sit comfortably in an upright position.

The smaller costs to consider include a helmet (about $50), bike lock (about $40) and air pump (around $25).

Battery operated flashers, which you probably want for the front and back of your bike, might cost another $20 a piece.

Other add-ons, such as fenders and a new messenger bag, will depend on your preferences. Maintenance costs will of course depend on how much you use your bike.

EXCUSE 3: I DON’T WANT TO GET SWEATY BEFORE WORK

A common concern is the need to change in and out of work clothes. But you don’t necessarily need to pull a Clark Kent-like outfit change.

“Unless you’re riding for endurance, you can wear your everyday street clothes for normal commuting,” said Meghan Cahill, a spokeswoman for the League of American Bicyclists, an advocacy group in Washington, D.C.

The sight might jar Americans, but Cahill noted that it’s common to see people riding to work in suits in countries where bicycling is more common.

If you’re not comfortable with that idea, you could always bring a change of clothes or leave a pair of dress shoes at the office. Many offices these days also have gyms where you can shower.

EXCUSE 4: I’M WORRIED MY BIKE WILL GET STOLEN

The fear of bike theft is valid.

Local police departments filed about 224,000 reports of stolen bikes with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2007. And that’s probably just a fraction of the bigger picture. According to the National Bike Registry, only about one out of every five stolen bikes is reported.

Still, a good lock isn’t your only defense.

Depending on the policy, your homeowner’s, renter’s or auto insurance might cover stolen or damaged bicycles. Call your insurer to find out specifics, such as how deductibles would work.

Many local police departments also offer bike registries. To enter it into a broader database, registering a bike with the National Bike Registry costs $10 for 10 years. Even if it doesn’t greatly boost your chances of recovering a stolen bike, you might deem it a small price to pay for some peace of mind.

Awareness about your surroundings goes a long way, too. When parking your bike, opt for open places with lots of foot traffic. Look for racks where other bikes are parked.

Another deterrent is taking detachable parts of the bike — such as the front wheel or seat — inside with you.

EXCUSE 5: I NEED A BIGGER CASH INCENTIVE

Besides the significant savings on gas and parking, you could also get a $20 monthly stipend from your employer for biking to work.

Workers can use the money toward any related costs, whether it’s for maintenance or equipment.

The stipend was made available under legislation passed last year, which gives companies tax credits if they decide to offer the allowance. It’s worth asking about; your employer simply might not know about it.

There could be more significant savings at stake too. If you have a household with multiple cars, for instance, your family might be able to eventually manage with one less car.

The regular exercise could also let you cut a pricey gym membership.

Of course, there will be days when you still need to drive in or take public transit because of bad weather or because you’re simply not up for a bike ride. But the long-term benefits can make any inconveniences seem minor.

ANDREW DAMPF, AP Sports Writer, ALPI DI SIUSI, Italy (AP)  Denis Menchov of Russia won the fifth stage of the Giro d’Italia in a grueling uphill finish Wednesday and Lance Armstrong lost nearly three minutes.

Danilo Di Luca of Italy crossed second and took the overall leader’s pink jersey from Thomas Lovkvist of Sweden, who was third.

Menchov covered the 77.68-mile leg that began in San Martino di Castrozza in an unofficial time of 3 hours, 15 minutes, 23 seconds. The stage ended with a 15.5-mile climb, and Armstrong finished an unofficial 2:59 behind Menchov and dropped to 22nd overall, 3:34 behind Di Luca.

“I’m definitely a little tired. It was a hard grind,” Armstrong said. “I knew that we would be behind, and we tried to limit our losses. I thought it would be two minutes, but three minutes is OK.”

The toughest part of the climb came in the final 6.2 miles, with the gradient at eight and nine percent. Armstrong lost contact with the leaders 3.7 miles from the finish.

Three Astana teammates — Janez Brajkovic, Daniel Navarro Garcia and Jose Luis Rubiera — stayed with the Texan and helped him avoid losing even more time.

“Like I said in the beginning, the first half (of the race) is not going to be my half,” said Armstrong, who is recovering from a broken collarbone. “I have to get my condition back, and I’m not going to be in the front.”

With 1.2 miles to go, Ivan Basso set the pace in a select leader’s group with six other riders — Astana’s Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner, Di Luca, defending Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre, Menchov and Lovkvist.

In the end, it was Di Luca and Menchov who battled it out in a sprint.

The stage began with a short climb over the Rolle pass, where a group of six riders broke away after 3.7 miles.

Giovanni Visconti, the leader of the ISD team, joined the breakaway on a downhill section, and the seven riders gained an advantage of 4 minutes, 32 seconds at one point. The breakaway riders were caught with 6.2 miles to go.

On Thursday, stage six covers a 154-mile route from Bressanone to Brixen Mayrhofen in Austria.

The next several stages go through rolling terrain without much climbing. The race ends May 31 in Rome.

Journal News writer Ernie Palladino, wrote this artcal about Blue Mountain Reserve and the upcoming Fat Tire Festival.  (Ernie’s brother Wayne is an active member of the Westchester Cylcle Club)

PEEKSKILL – On a normal day, James Olenik of Cortlandt Manor might have chanced a wild ride up and down the Spitzenberg Climb at the Blue Mountain Reservation.

But on this particular spring afternoon, he was busy introducing his friend to the wonders of mountain biking.

The tameness of the day’s ride did little to dampen Olenik’s enthusiasm. Wherever he was at Blue Mountain, he knew he was at one of the best areas for mountain biking in North America. No less than Bike Magazine proclaimed it so, tabbing it as the No. 1 mountain-biking venue in America near a metropolis.

“This is actually my first time here in two years,” the 37-year-old Olenik said. “I just got busy. But I’m trying to get back into it. And I love it here. They’ve got everything from beginners to some really, really gnarly stuff.”

Actually, there are 40 miles’ worth of trails, from easy to, as Olenik said, helmet-cracking tough, at this former ice farm that began its transformation into a biker’s paradise as part of a Works Progress Administration project in the 1930s.

It has truly grown into a premier mountain-biking facility over the past dozen years or so under the supervision of Westchester director of parks facilities Dave DeLucia and the volunteerism of the Westchester Mountain Biking Association.

That association, in fact, will run a free “Fat Tire” festival at Blue Mountain on June 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cool will replace gnarly that day.

Inexperienced riders can get a supervised jaunt along the serpentine trails that lead into vistas of the valley below. From the top of Spitzenberg Mountain, one can see the cupola of Hen Hud High in Montrose.

Competitions such as a Slow Race – last one across the finish line wins, will also take up a major part of the day.

Vendors from various bike shops and bike manufacturers will fill the field, offering test rides on top-of-the-line bikes far out of most people’s price range.

“The great thing about it,” DeLucia said, “is that you can get a ride on a bike you’d never, ever consider buying. The bad thing is you have to give it back afterward.”

Other major rides and activities are listed on the association’s Web site at WMBA.org.

One needn’t wait for a festival to sample the treasures of Blue Mountain, however. DeLucia said a sunny, warm weekend might bring 100 riders per day to the free park, which stays open from dawn to dusk.

The only charge is parking; $4 for Westchester County Park Pass holders and $8 for those without.

Parking for the Fat Tire festival is free.

Basically, it’s just a nice place for a ride.

“Because of the topography of this place, you feel like it’s in the Adirondacks,” DeLucia said. “It really lends itself to mountain biking.”

The trails are also used by runners as well as hikers.

But for Olenik, an optometrist, there’s more to Blue Mountain than a leisurely roll with his biking newcomer friend, Keith McGaughey.

“This is a good place to see things,” Olenik said.

McGaughey, also of Cortlandt Manor, said there’s as many easy trails as expert trails at Blue Mountain.

“You can do some stuff here,” the 42-year-old Costco general manager said as he straddled the GT Avalanche 3.0 he bought that day. “It’s a well-known place to get your stripes.”

After that, things can get pretty gnarly out there – if you want.

Ernie, thanks for this terrific artical on a terrific mountain bike area which is often rated one of the best in the country.

Please click here for a photo gallery of Matthew Brown’s Photos.

ANDREW DAMPF, AP Sports Writer, SAN MARTINO DI CASTROZZA, Italy (AP)  Italy’s Danilo Di Luca won the fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia in an uphill finish Tuesday while Lance Armstrong finished 15 seconds behind and dropped to sixth place overall.

Sweden’s Thomas Lovkvist of Team Columbia-High Road was seventh and took the overall leader’s pink jersey from Alessandro Petacchi of Italy. Lovkvist holds a two-second lead over Di Luca in the overall standings.

Armstrong is recovering from a broken collarbone in March and competing in this race for the first time. The seven time Tour de France champion entered the day in fifth place and is 28 seconds behind Lovkvist.

“I’m happy with my performance today. This was my first big climb since retiring,” Armstrong said in a statement released by his Astana team. “I had a good feeling and no collarbone pain at all.”

Armstrong is returning this year after 3½ years of retirement. He said the 15 seconds he lost was “not much,” adding that he needed to adjust his gears at one point.

“Of course, it was not a very difficult climb,” he said. “Tomorrow will be a better indication. It will be a long and hard day. We’ll see. I don’t know what to expect.”

Wednesday’s arduous mountain stage is from San Martino to Alpe di Siusi. The race ends May 31 in Rome.

Di Luca, the 2007 Giro winner, dedicated the victory to his Abruzzo region. The area was hit by an earthquake early last month that killed nearly 300 people and drove some 50,000 from their homes.

“I wanted to win for my territory today,” said Di Luca, who twisted his body as he crossed the line to show the words printed on the side of his jersey — “Forza Abruzzo” or “Go Abruzzo.”

Di Luca, who rides for the LPR Brakes team, covered the 101-mile leg from Padua to San Martino di Castrozza in the Dolomite range in 4 hours, 15 minutes, 4 seconds.

He was followed by Stefano Garzelli and Franco Pellizotti — both in the same time as the winner — to give Italy a podium sweep.

Armstrong lost contact with the leaders in the final mile and declined to speak with reporters in the finish area. Sweating profusely and looking exhausted, he was not happy after the stage when his handlers could not immediately give him a cold drink.

“Come on, guys,” he said.

Armstrong said before the race he would ride in support Astana teammate Levi Leipheimer. Leipheimer was sixth Tuesday with the same time as Di Luca; Armstrong was 32nd. The other race favorites finished in the lead pack.

“Lance looked really good all day,” said Astana team member Chris Horner, dismissing the amount of time Armstrong lost. “That’s really small.”

Leipheimer is fifth overall, 26 seconds behind Lovkvist. Overall race favorite Ivan Basso is 11th, 53 seconds back.

“Levi looks fantastic as always — real smooth,” Horner said. “I don’t think you’ll see a whole lot of action from our team until you get a little further into the race.”

Di Luca and the other top Italians want to take time from Armstrong before the two individual time trials later in the race.

“We’re trying to cut him out completely,” Di Luca said. “It’s tough, but we’re going to try again tomorrow. It’s going to be a very competitive Giro. This first week is very important for me, because the time trial doesn’t suit me.”

Petacchi, who also rides for LPR, won the past two stages in sprints. Team Columbia’s Mark Cavendish wore the pink jersey after the first two stages.

“I had very good legs,” Lovkvist said. “We got the jersey back for the team again and we’re not going to give anything away.”

Spain’s Francisco Perez Sanchez of the Caisse d’Epargne team fell seven miles into the stage and was put on a stretcher and taken to a hospital. Details of his injuries were not immediately available.

The day’s first significant climb came after 69 miles — a 5.3-mile ascent to Croce d’Aune. The road then began to tilt upward again after 92 miles.

Six riders — Francesco Bellotti, Davide Vigano, Ian Stannard, Francesco De Bonis, Jens Voigt and Serafin Martinez Acevedo — broke away from the pack early and established a seven-minute lead at one point. Voigt, the last remnant of the breakaway, was caught with 1.5 miles to go.

(AP Photos)