Cycling: Baldato's protest win

Fabio Baldato won the second stage of the Giro d'Italia in Matera yesterday after the Australian champion Robbie McEwen was penalised by the race jury for an incorrect sprint.

Italy's Alessandro Petacchi retained the overall leader's pink jersey, completing the leg in the same time as the winner.

The Giro jury accepted Baldato's protest after watching TV tapes of the group sprint which showed that McEwen swerved from the centre of the road toward the right side in the final 100 metres, almost pushing Baldato into the barriers.

"McEwen told me that he had not seen me coming from behind, but there is no doubt that his behaviour was incorrect," Baldato said.

The world champion Mario Cipollini, beaten by Petacchi in the first stage win on the Saturday, lost more than two minutes on the final hilly section.