Giro d'Italia Stage 9: Messina > Etna, 169kms

After a peaceful boat trip from the Italian mainland, the Giro sets off from Messina...

SCENERYGIRO

Mikael Cherel is leading nine riders away in the day's first escape - but they never get more than five minutes lead...

Geoff Brown and David Millar are at it again, and it's only in the neutralized zone..!

GARMINGIROMECHANICAL

The peloton starts the first ascent of Mt Etna with the snows and smoke far above them...

Yaroslav Popovych is in the escape but temporarily out of it with a flat tyre...

SHACKMECHANICAL

Peter Weening looks a bit tense as the climbing starts for real...

MAGLIAGIRO

White snows and black lava frame the peloton as it approaches the first summit of Mt Etna...

SCENERYGIRO

A Radio Shack mechanic comes to the aid of Phillip Deignan on the long and fast descent...

SHACKMECHANICAL

Jan Bakelandts, Giovanni Visconti and Matthias Frank are away halfway up the second ascent...

OMEGAESCAPEGIRO

Lampre are leading the chase, for Michele Scarponi...

Bakelandts has gone off alone with seven kilometres to go...

Jose Rujano has made a counter-attack with six-kilometres to go...

CLIMBINGGIRO

Alberto Contador has made the biggest attack of the day - and even Scarponi cannot stay with him..!

SAXOGIRO

Contador easily catches Rujano - and they've both passed Bakelandts as well...

SAXOGIRO

There's alarm in the chasing group - but no chase - with Garzelli, Kreuziger, Nibali and Kiryienka not sure what to do...

Nibali makes a desperate attack with two-kilometres to go - but it won't get him anywhere..!

LIQUIGASATTACKGIRO

Alberto Contador wins stage nine after dropping Rujano in the last kilometre...

SAXOGIRO

Alberto Contador shows his exuberence at winning the stage and taking the Maglia Rosa today..!

SAXOGIRO