British sprinter Mark Cavendish won the 13th stage of the Giro d'Italia Friday, a 176km journey from Tuscan resort Lido Camaiore to Florence.
Russia's Denis Menchov kept the leader's pink jersey he claimed in a gruelling time trial Thursday.
The Russian is now the bookies' favourite to claim final victory in Rome on May 31.
America's Levi Leipheimer and Italy's Danilo De Luca are seen as his main rivals.
Lance Armstrong is still looking fairly strong despite having dropped off the pace and some think he could pull off his pre-race aim of winning one stage.
