Anagni, Italy  - Russia's Denis Menchov was well placed to win the Giro d'Italia after he stayed in the leader's pink jersey following the penultimate stage on Saturday.

Belgium's Philippe Gilbert won the stage from Naples to Anagni ahead of France's Thomas Voeckler and Stefano Garzelli of Italy after a two-way sprint following a late breakaway.

Gilbert of the Silence-Lotto team posted 4 hours, 30 minutes, 7 seconds over the 203-kilometre leg.

Menchov, 31, of the Rabobank team, now has Sunday's 14.4km individual time trial in Rome between him and his first Giro title.

Riomaggiore, Italy  - Russian Denis Menchov on Thursday won the 12th stage of the Giro d'Italia and took over the leaders' jersey from Danilo di Luca.

The Rabobank cyclist won the 60.6 kilometre-long time-trial from Sestri Levante to Riomaggiore in a time of 1:34.29 hours, beating American Astana cyclist Levi Leipheimer by 20 seconds and Italian Stefano Garzelli by more than a minute.

Menchov managed to gain one minute 54 seconds on di Luca and will go into Friday's 13th stage with a 34 second advantage over the LPR Brakes cyclist.

Alpe di Siusi, Italy - Russia's Denis Menchov proved strongest in the ascent of the Alpe di Siusi Wednesday to claim victory in the fifth stage of the Giro d'Italia.

On the day the Tour of Italy celebrated its 100th birthday, Rabobank's Menchov came home in a time of 3 hours, 15 minutes, 23 seconds to finish two seconds ahead of Tuesday's stage winner Danilo di Luca and five clear of Sweden's Thomas Lovkvist.