Bennati wins Giro d'Italia ninth stage; Visconti keeps overall lead
SAN VINCENZO, Italy -- Daniele Bennati won the ninth stage of the Giro d'Italia in a sprint finish, and Giovanni Visconti kept the overall lead for a fourth day.
Bennati, who rides for Liquigas, concluded the mostly flat 135-mile leg from Civitavecchia to San Vincenzo less than a half tire length in front of Paolo Bettini.
Bennati finished in 5 hours, 30 minutes, 6 seconds for his second stage victory in the three-week race. Robbie McEwen was third in the same time.
"It was an incredible finish," Bennati said. "I wasn't sure that I had won."
Visconti leads with an overall time of 42:14:16.
Monday is the first of the Giro's two rest days. The race continues Tuesday with a 24.5-mile time trial from Pesaro to Urbino.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
