Ricco times move to win Giro eighth stage

(CNN) -- Saunier Duval's Riccardo Ricco timed his burst to perfection to win the eighth stage of the Giro d'Italia and claim a valuable time bonus in the battle for the overall honors.

Ricco came off the front of a fast-moving peloton to edge out Italian compatriot and world champion Paolo Bettini.

David Rebellin placed third and Franco Pellizotti took fourth to continue Italian domination of the stage.

Giovanni Visconti of the Quick Step team retained the leader's pink jersey after finishing in the main group on the 208 kilometer stage from Rivisondoli to Tivoli on the outskirts of Rome.

The predominantly flat stage was expected to favor the pure sprinters, but Ricco gatecrashed the party and stepped up his bid for victory at the end of the three-week tour.

His teammate Leonardo Piepoli attacked on the final climb with three kilometers remaining.

A group of about 40 riders followed, and defending champion Danilo Di Luca shot to the front after Piepoli tired.

Ricco, Bettini, Rebellin and two other riders then passed Di Luca with 400 meters left.

"Today I didn't think that I could do it," Ricco told the Associated Press.

"Piepoli did great work at the end to set the pace. All the team had a hand in the victory."

The 20 second time bonus he claimed for winning the stage sees him close up to fifth place, six seconds behind Di Luca.

The pair had finished locked together after the difficult climb to end the seventh stage on Friday and with Tour de France champion Alberto Contador are expected to be major contenders for the pink jersey.