They can’t take this one away from Robbie McEwen.

Just two days after the Aussie was relegated for dangerous sprinting, McEwen drove past Alessandro Petacchi’s left shoulder for the win. He didn’t bump him or barge him nor did he stick out his tongue, so the race judges can’t say a thing.

“It was a very, very difficult sprint. It was very fast in the last kilometer. I grabbed Petacchi’s wheel and I saw a good moment to make a move,” McEwen told AFP. “This victory helps me to forget the disqualification in Matera. No, this isn’t revenge for what happened there.”

On Tuesday, race judges took away a stage win after the feisty McEwen squeezed Italian Fabio Baldato (Alessio) near the race fences coming into the finish line. On Tuesday, McEwen flatted with 25km to go, but fought hard to catch the front group and nipped Petacchi by a half-wheel.

McEwen’s Lotto-Domo teammate Rik Verbrugghe, who finished ninth overall last year and won a stage, couldn’t start after crashing in Monday’s stage. The Aussie said the win will help lift the team’s spirits.

“It is a much-needed victory for the team (Lotto) after Rik Verbrugghe’s fall on Monday and what happened to me on Sunday we really were in need of a good news story,” McEwen said. “Hopefully this is the turning point as there are five stages in the next nine days where I think I can win. I haven’t really been in a great frame of mind since the start of the race as I arrived late having missed my plane.”

World champion Mario Cipollini (Domina Vacanze) continued to struggle, raising speculation on whether or not he’ll be able to tie and break Alfredo Binda’s 41-win Giro record before the arrival of the difficult mountains at Stage 7.

Cipollini languished off the back yet again Tuesday, losing contact over the Category 3 Cresta di Zungri at 135km. Despite the help of several Domina Vacanze teammates, Cipollini couldn’t get back to dispute the sprint. He finished 100th at 1:10 back.

The early escape

Photo: Graham Watson

“The stage was tougher than we thought it would be,” the world road race champion told AFP. “However I’m not too bitter as I am not in my best physical condition. The only positive thing is the affection of the public towards me.”

Three riders – Martin Hvastija (Tenex), Elia Aggiano (Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave') and Julian Martinez Usano (Kelme) — went away early but were reeled in before the Cresta climb. Four other riders attacked up the climb, but were checked by an anxious Fassa Bortolo to bring Petacchi to the line to defend his jersey.

With the second place, Petacchi padded his lead, stretching his advantage to 29 seconds over second-place Stefano Garzelli (Caldirola-Sidermec). Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) sits third overall at 39 seconds slower.

The Giro heads to Sicily for one stage Wednesday. The peloton hits the steepest climb of the Giro so far at 95km with the Category 2 climb to Portella Mandrazzi. There’s another unrated climb with 20km to go and dead flat for the closing 8km.