Sport Forward: Sastre up to third after Giro win

Sastre left it late before grabbing his first stage win of the 2009 Giro

Spain's Carlos Sastre staged a stunning late charge to win the 16th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Monday.

Russian Denis Menchov finished second to stay top of the overall standings after the 237km leg from Pergola to Monte Petrano in the Appenines.

Cervelo's Sastre, the 2008 Tour de France winner, reeled in Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovych as he faded on the final climb of a tough stage.

He won in seven hours 11 minutes and 54 seconds to move up from fifth to third.

Popovych had looked set to triumph when he left fellow escapees Damiano Cunego and Gabriele Bosisio of Italy behind on the last descent.

But Sastre, 34, took advantage as he ran out of steam in 37C temperatures to claim a superb win.

Rabobank's Menchov outsprinted Italian duo Danilo Di Luca and Ivan Basso to clinch second.

After a rest day on Tuesday, the race resumes on Wednesday with another uphill finish in a short 83km stage from Chieti to Blockhaus.

The Giro ends on 31 May in Rome.

Sport Forward