Sporting Digest: Cycling

Serguei Gontchar of Ukraine took the pink jersey of overall Giro d'Italia leader from Alex Zulle taking advantage of a spill which split the group in two just before the final kilometer of yesterday's third stage. Gontchar, who trailed Zulle by one second in the standings, found himself in the leading group while Zulle finished in the second group. The stage was won by Italy's Nicola Minali after a crowded sprint.

GIRO D'ITALIA: Stage 3 (Rapallo to Forte dei Marmi 196kms): 1 N Minali (It, Riso Scotti) four hr 44 min, 34 sec; 2 M Strazzer (It, Cantina Tollo) same time; 3 F Arazzi It, Ros Mary) same time; 4 A Petacchi (It, Scrigno) same time; 5 S Martinello (It, Team Polti) same time. Overall standings: 1 S Gontchar (Ukr, Cantina Tollo) 12 hr 41 min 32 sec; 2 M Bartoli (It, Asics) +9 sec; 3 M Piccoli (It, Brescialat) +12; 4 M Velo, (It, Mercatone Uno) +12; 5 A Zulle (Swit, Festina) +12.