Cycling: Scarponi boosts home hopes with stage win

Michele Scarponi won the sixth stage of the Giro d'Italia yesterday as the race crossed into Austria.

Danilo Di Luca held on to the leader's pink jersey, while Lance Armstrong again lost time – crossing 1 minute 15 seconds behind. Scarponi, an Italian with the Diquigiovanni team, covered the 154-mile leg in 5 hours, 49 minutes, 55 seconds.

Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen finished second, 32 sec back, and Allan Davis of Australia third.