Giro d'Italia Stage 20
Saint-Vincent to Sestriere
199km (2 KOMS, 2 Sprints)
1st – Fabio Aru, Astana (5:12:25)
2nd – Ryder Hesjedal, Cannondale-Garmin
3rd – Rigoberto Uran, Etixx-QuickStep
Pink Jersey - Alberto Contador, Tinkoff-Saxo (+2:02)
King of the Mountains – Giovanni Visconti, Movistar
Sprint – Giacomo Nizzolo, Trek Factory Racing
Best Young Rider – Fabio Aru, Astana
Team Competition – Astana
Alberto Contador's GC domination appeared under threat during today's Colle delle Finestre climb (9-10 per cent gradient), when Astana's Mikel Landa and Fabio Aru launched attacks.
Landa surged ahead from the pack to chase down the only remaining breakaway rider, Katusha's Ilnur Zakarin. Aru soon followed and Contador was unable to keep pace, eventually reaching the peak one minute behind Landa. He soon however, made up this distance on the descent and coming into the final climb.
Aru in the meantime reached his team mate and Zakarin, and it was Landa who set the pace for his leader. Aru launched his attack near the finish line, the other riders unable to stick to his wheel.
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The win delivers a back-to-back Giro d'Italia stage victory for Aru, and an impressive five wins for Astana overall. It also saw him shave considerable time off Contador's overall 4:37 lead, which now sits at 2:02.
The diminishing lead didn't stop Contador crossing the line pumping his fist. With a fast and flat 185km into Milan tomorrow, the Pistol's GC victory appears all but a foregone conclusion.
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Thanks again to Graham Watson for another great image!
