SESTRIERES, Italy, 29 May 2005 — Race leader Paolo Savoldelli of Italy came within inches of losing the Giro d’Italia’s pink jersey in a dramatic penultimate stage won by Jose Rujano here yesterday.

Venezuelan climbing sensation Rujano claimed victory in the 19th stage held over 190km between Savigliano and here after pulling ahead of Gilberto Simoni in the final five kilometers of the last climb.

Simoni, of the Lampre-Caffita team, came in second 26secs later and his inability to follow Rujano perhaps cost him the chance of winning the race for the third time in his career.

Savoldelli, the 2002 winner who now rides for Lance Armstrong’s team, finished nearly two minutes behind Rujano but somehow managed to retain the race lead having virtually relinquished it during the difficult climb of the Finistere, the second last climb of the day, as Simoni, Danilo di Luca and Rujano went on a three-pronged attack.

The 32-year-old Italian now goes into today’s final stage to Milan with a 28-sec race lead over former two-time winner Simoni and a 45-sec lead over Rujano, who claimed his Selle Italia team’s third stage of the race.

Pro Tour series leader Di Luca, of the Liquigas team, was a huge help to Simoni, setting the pace on the tough Finistere climb - parts of which were gravel - ahead of his fellow Italian and Rujano, but he paid for his efforts.

Di Luca’s chances of finishing on the podium came to an end - he finished 1:37 down on Rujano and is now over two minutes behind Savoldelli.

Savoldelli now looks poised to join Simoni as a two-time winner of the Giro d’Italia - unless there is drama on the final day today.

Savoldelli, reputed to be one of the best downhillers in the peloton, made up for his virtual loss of the pink jersey by accelerating on the nine-kilometer stretch toward the foot of the last climb to Sestrieres.

On the descent, he managed to pull back some of the time and during the final climb he dug deep to make sure he would start with it on his back when the 20th stage, a 119km ride from Albese con Cassano to Milan, begins today. Rujano meanwhile was only the second ever Venezuelan to win a stage on the Giro after Leonardo Sierra in the 1990’s.

For the 23-year-old’s first participation on the race, it is not a bad result — and he will be equally delighted at his imminent podium finish today which will go nicely with his prize for the being the best mountain climber on the race.