Nibali steps on the gas to pick up his Giro cheque as Arroyo takes overall control

LATE inclusion Vincenzo Nibali showed he is a serious Giro d'Italia contender with a classy win in yesterday's 14th stage as Spain's David Arroyo grabbed the overall lead.

Italian Nibali, called up after Franco Pellizotti was withdrawn from Liquigas's team because of a doping probe, displayed skill and courage to pull away on a long downhill section towards the end of the 205-km trek.

He then confidently maintained a comfortable advantage over team captain Ivan Basso, Michele Scarponi and Australia's world champion Cadel Evans in the last part of the stage from Ferrara in Emilia-Romagna to the Veneto town of Asolo.

The win lifts Nibali to eighth overall, six minutes and 51 seconds behind Arroyo of the Caisse D'Epargne team, who moved 39 seconds clear of former leader Richie Porte. Saxo Bank's Australian surprise package Porte had been in front since Wednesday, when the overall standings were sent haywire after many of the top riders' teams badly miscalculated their ability to reel in a break. That error has helped Briton Bradley Wiggins fight his way back to seventh but David Millar has abandoned the event with a throat infection. However, the Scot has declared himself satisfied with his form ahead of July's Tour de France.

Meanwhile, Britain's Mark Cavendish was eliminated after the gruelling sixth stage of the Tour of California after crossing the line outside the time limit.