IVREA, Italy (AP) — Benat Intxausti of Spain won the 16th stage of the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday, and favorite Vincenzo Nibali retained the overall lead as the race entered the final week.
Intxausti won in 5 hours, 52 minutes, 48 seconds, beating Tanel Kangert and Przemyslaw Niemiec in a final sprint of the hilly 148-mile stage
Nibali maintained his lead of 1 minute, 26 seconds over Cadel Evans and remains on course to win his country’s biggest cycling race for the first time. He finished third and second in his last two Giro d’Italia races.
American Taylor Phinney was forced to retire midway through the stage because of saddle sores. He had hoped for a stage win, while also working for team leader Evans.
The Giro ends May 26 in Brescia.
