Cycling: Indurain takes lead by mistake

MIGUEL INDURAIN hit the front by mistake yesterday but eased up to let Adriano Baffi win the 229-kilometre second stage of the Tour of Italy, from Grosseto to Rieti.

Indurain, who won this tour and the Tour de France last year, remained third overall, 38 seconds behind the leader, Moreno Argentin of Italy. The error came when Indurain took the lead on a hill three kilometres from the end. 'I didn't really want to be there,' the Spaniard said. 'I wanted to avoid getting involved in a fall, but the gap was there.'

Indurain's presence with Gianni Bugno, Claudio Chiappucci and Franco Chioccioli near the front signalled the early rivalry for the stage honours, but they let another group dispute the finish. Baffi won in 5hr 52min 54sec from fellow-Italian Marco Saligari and the Russian rider, Dimitri Konyshev.