Chris Sorensen wins 1st uphill finish of Giro; Alexandre Vinokourov maintains pink jersey

Sorensen wins stage, Vinokourov retains Giro lead

TERMINILLO, Italy — Danish rider Chris Sorensen won the first uphill finish of the Giro d’Italia on Sunday, and Alexandre Vinokourov maintained the overall leader’s pink jersey.

Taking advantage of an early breakaway, Sorensen clocked 4 hours, 50 minutes, 48 seconds in the eighth stage, a 117-mile leg from Chianciano Terme to Terminillo.

The stage ended with a 10-mile climb to the Terminillo ski resort in central Italy, with the upper section of the climb shrouded in fog.

Sorensen was part of a group of riders who broke away after 47 miles, gaining a three-minute advantage at one point.

Simone Stortoni of Italy finished second, 30 seconds behind, and Xavier Tondo Volpini of Spain was third, 36 seconds back.

Vinokourov was eighth with the other race favorites, 56 seconds behind.

Carlos Sastre, the 2008 Tour de France winner, struggled on the final climb and finished 2 minutes behind, dropping to 21st overall — 8:10 behind Vinokourov.

Sprinting standout Alessandro Petacchi withdrew midway through the stage.

Monday’s ninth stage follows a mostly flat 116-mile route from Frosinone to Cava De’ Tirreni.