CYCLING:GIRO D'ITALIA leader Joaquim Rodriguez passed his first major mountain test with flying colours as he won the 17th stage, his second stage win of the race, yesterday.

Twice Giro champion Ivan Basso finished second behind the Spanish Katusha rider in the six-rider sprint which decided the mammoth mountain stage from Falzes to Cortina d’Ampezzo, with former race leader Ryder Hesjedal of Canada in third.

There was no time change between the top three in the overall standings, with Rodriguez leading Hesjedal by 30 seconds and Basso by 82 seconds.

Rodriguez acknowledged he would have to increase his overall lead since Hesjedal is expected to make up a lot of time in Sunday’s final time trial in Milan. “If things stay as they are in terms of time, clearly it’ll be impossible for me to win the Giro, but also impossible for Basso and for 2011 Giro winner Michele Scarponi,” he said.