Giuseppe Muraglia (CDC – Cavalaire) won the third stage of the Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria in a solo finish today. As the last member of a breakaway group that formed with around 70km to go, Muraglia hung on to win with 40 seconds to spare over yesterday’s winner Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre–Farnese Vini) whose finishing effort detached him from the front of the peloton.

Muraglia’s victory is his first since returning to the sport last summer after a two year suspension. He tested positive for banned hormone hCG after winning the Clasica de Almeria in March 2007; he has since been disqualified.

“I had fallen from the world,” he said to la Gazzetta dello Sport. “I had to get married; I had financial problems; I was a waiter and bartender in Pescara. But it was hard, very hard. I had to get up every morning at 5am; I worked 12 hours a day, prepared and served 12 types of coffee.

“Until I was struck in February 2009 with the desire to try again,” he continued. “I trained for four months, then I tried to find a team, and I found only closed doors. The only team that has given me a second chance was the CDC-Cavaliere.”

Muraglia dedicated his victory to his wife and son, before answering those who may feel that as an ex-doper he had no business in the sport.

“I am neither the first nor the last to have had problems with doping,” he said defiantly. “I paid. I deserve another ‘chance’, like so many others who, thanks to a name more important than mine, have had a better time.

“I know that a relapse would be fatal,” he concluded, referring to the life ban that would meet him should he test positive again.

Alessandro Petacchi, winner of yesterday’s stage, took the unaccustomed role of lead out man for Lampre–Farnese Vini teammate Daniele Pietropoli. Unfortunately Ale-Jet remains one of the World’s fastest men, and was too fast for everyone else to cope with.

He was also mistaken as to which position he was racing for.

“I rode quietly at the back until the end and I went ahead to lead out Pietropolli,” he said. “I got away. I looked back and realized I made a gap and then I went to the finish. I did not know there was a rider ahead of me. I found out by the speaker, 100 meters from the finish.

“Never mind. Tomorrow is another day. I will try to win, and if not I’ll survive: patience. My real goals are ahead.”

Stage 1 winner Matteo Montugati (De Rosa – Stac Plastic) retains his overall lead with one stage remaining.

Results stage 3

1. Giuseppe Muraglia (Ita) CDC Cavaliere
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre – Farnese Vini
3. Daniele Pietropolli (Ita) Lampre – Farnese Vini
4. Alekxandr Kuschynski (Blr) Liquigas Doimo
5. Francesco Failli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone
6. Mauro Finetto (Ita) Liquigas Doimo
7. Matteo Montaguti (Ita) De Rosa – Stac Plastic
8. Francisco Ventoso (Esp) Carmiooro NGC
9. Francesco Cannone (Ita) Ceramiche Flaminia
10. Andrea Noè (Ita) Ceramiche Flaminia

Standings after stage 3

1. Matteo Montaguti (Ita) De Rosa – Stac Plastic
2. Filippo Savini (Ita) Colnago CSF Inox
3. Francisco Ventoso (Esp) Carmiooro NGC
4. Daniele Pietropolli (Ita) Lampre Farnese Vini
5. Federico Canuti ( Colnago CSF Inox
6. Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas Doimo
7. Cristiano Salerno (Ita) De Rosa – Stac Plastic
8. Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) Lampre Farnese vini
9. Francesco Failli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone
10. Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Liquigas Doimo.