Giro d'Italia Stage 9 - Another crash marred sprint

Today's stage: Sprinters paradise. Short and no categorized climbs.

Who won today's stage? Francisco Ventoso (Movistar) won a bunch sprint after favorites Mark Cavendish (Team Sky) and Matt Goss (Orica GreenEdge) were taken out in a crash on the final turn.

What matters in the GC race? Nothing. The GC remains the same. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin) continues to lead over Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) by 9 seconds.

What matters in the other competitions?

Red Jersey (Points) – Despite the crash, Cavendish did inch a little closer to Goss after scoring points at the intermediate sprint point. The difference is now four points.

Blue Jersey (King of the Mountains) – Miguel Rubiano (Androni Giacattoli) still leads after his presence in the breakaway on stage 6. He will likely lead until next weekend when the high mountains hit for the first time.

White Jersey (Best Young Rider) – Damiano Caruso (Liquigas) still leads and he is in good form. Caruso actually contested the sprint today and finished fourth.

Team Classification – No changes here with the bunch sprint. Liquigas leads with Astana and Garmin still within a minute.

Biggest surprise: Caruso and Hesjedal's presence during the final sprint. Caruso was 4^th and Hesjedal 7^th on the stage as both tried to take advantage of the crash and steal a few seconds with a 3^rd place finish.

Biggest disappointment: I asked at the end of stage 2 and I will ask again: Why is there a sharp bend in the final run to the sprint? It's just asking for a crash and, just like stage 2, a crash is exactly what we got.

Other items of note: Over at the Tour of California, Peter Sagan (Liquigas) took stage 1 in a sprint. That race really doesn't heat up until the time trial on Thursday leading into two days in the mountains Friday and Saturday... No abandons today, as expected with a big bunch sprint stage.

What is coming tomorrow? Another day with no categorized climbs... until the final sprint that takes place on a category four hill. Unless Joaquim Rodriguez wants a go at the pink jersey, this looks like a breakaway as the sprinters teams won't chase and there won't be anyone in the break sitting only a minute or two behind like yesterday.