Cadel Evans loses time to Giro leader Vincenzo Nibali

RACE leader Vincenzo Nibali extended his lead over Australia's Cadel Evans in the Giro d'Italia on Saturday.

Cadel Evans

RACE leader Vincenzo Nibali extended his lead over Australia's Cadel Evans as Mauro Santambrogio won a shortened 14th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Saturday.

Nibali, of the Astana team, came over the finish line in second place after giving his fellow Italian, of the Vini Farini team, the nod to take the stage win unhindered.

Evans, the 2011 Tour de France champion who started the day 41secs behind Nibali, crossed the line 33 seconds behind in sixth place.

The Australian kept second place overall but is now 1min 26sec down while Colombian Rigoberto Uran Uran remained third at 2:46.

Saturday's stage in the high Italian Alps was shortened 12km, cutting out the climb to Sestriere due to fears over cold and wet conditions on the descent in the snow.

The finish was unaltered with a punishing final 7.3km climb at Jafferau above Bardonecchia.

Nibali's hopes of a maiden Giro win were boosted on friday when main rival Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) and defending champion Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin) pulled out due to illness.

Uran has taken the mantle of Sky's team leader.

Santambrogio's win pushed the 28-year-old up to fourth place overall but he is nearly three minutes off the pace and not considered a threat to Nibali.

A four-man breakaway held a four-minute lead at the foot of the final climb, an average gradient of nine per cent.

However they were reeled in one by one as the battle for the stage win and for the pickings in the overall race took hold.

Sunday's 15th stage, due to finish on the summit of the legendary Galibier climb in France, has also been altered due to poor weather conditions.

The finish line will now be moved from the Galibier's altitude of 2642 metres to 2301 metres, at the site of a statue commemorating fallen Italian champion Marco Pantani.