RIOMAGGIORE, Italy (AP) -Russia's Denis Menchov has taken the overall lead at the Giro d'Italia after winning the key individual time trial in the 12th stage.
Menchov overtook Italy's Danilo Di Luca for the pink jersey. Di Lucaq finished sixth in the 38-mile leg Thursday and trails Menchov by 34 seconds in the overall standings.
Menchov was timed in 1 hour, 34 minutes, 29 seconds in the route along the coastal area known as Cinque Terre. U.S. rider Levi Leipheimer was second, 20 seconds behind, and Stefano Garzelli of Italy was third, 1:03 back. Lance Armstrong was 13th and is 2:26 behind.
Stage 13 on Friday is a mostly flat, 109-mile course from Lido di Camaiore to Florence. The race ends May 31 in Rome.