Giro Stage 7: Boasson Hagen goes one better in the wet

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia High Road) who bagged second on yesterday's stage in to Austria went one better today as the Giro encountered atrocious conditions in Switzerland.

The final shakedown was between five riders with Boasson Hagen and fellow spring specialist Robbie Hunter (Barloworld) the big favourites to take the win. Hunter had to settle for second as the Norwegian times his attack just right. Pavel Brutt (Katusha) was third.

Today's stage took the race from Innsbruck in Austria through Switzerland to finish 244Km later in Chiavenna back in Italy. The course for the day was a long steady climb of the Maloja pass, at 1815 meters followed by a fast descent down the other side ot the finish. Not unlike yesterday but without the slight uphill run in. This time the descent pretty much delivered the riders right in to the tight streets of Chiavenna.

The other big difference from yesterday was the weather the riders were dressed more like they were out on a winter training ride rather than the first of the summer classics. Conditions were so bad with torrential rain and snow banked at the sides of the road on the mountain road that expecting possible trouble on the run in the organisers timed the stage for the General Classification 3Km out from the finish.

Top 10 Giro d'Italia Stage 7
1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad)
2 Robert Hunter (Barloworld)
3 Pavel Brutt (Katusha)
4 Davide Viganò (Fuji-Servetto)
5 Alessandro Bertolini (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli)
6 Andriy Grivko (ISD) 0.31
7 Matthew Goss (Saxo Bank) 0.40
8 Allan Davis (Quick Step)
9 Robert Förster (Milram)
10 Ben Swift (Katusha)