Giro 2015 Stage 20: Aru powers to 2nd win in a row

The Queen Stage of the 2015 Giro features the steep and partly unpaved Colle delle Finestre. It's there Contador is dropped, but he is able to minimize his losses and he is the Giro-winner of 2015. Fabio Aru takes his second win in a row, giving extra luster to his second place overall. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 20th stage 2015 Giro

1. Fabio Aru (ita)
2. Ryder Hesjedal (can) + 0.18
3. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.24
4. Mikel Landa (spa) s.t.
5. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.34
6. Alberto Contador (spa) + 2.25
7. Tanel Kangert (est) + 2.28
8. Franco Pelizotti (ita) s.t.
9. Leopold König (cze) s.t.
10. Diego Rosa (ita) s.t.
11. Damiano Caruso (ita) s.t.
12. Andrey Amador (crc) s.t.

GC after stage 20
1. Alberto Contador (spa)
2. Fabio Aru (ita) + 2.02
3. Mikel Landa (spa) + 3.14
4. Andrey Amador (crc) + 6.19
5. Ryder Hesjedal (can) + 9.52
6. Leopold König (cze) + 10.50
7. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 11.02
8. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 12.17
9. Alexandre Geniez + 16.00
10. Yuri Trofimov (rus) + 16.23

Race report
In the break of the day are Ilnur Zakarin, Jon Izagirre, Julien Bérard, Nicola Boem, Marco Bandiera, Diego Ulissi, Aleksejs Saramotins, Giacomo Berlato and Matteo Busato. They race to a 2 minutes gain and there it lingers.

On the slopes of the Finestre Zakarin is the last escapee. The gruppo with GC men is 1’30” down. After an attack by Landa on the gravel sector Contador is dropped. Landa powers to Zakarin and they crest the top together. Hesjedal, Uran and Aru are next, then Kruijswijk, then Kangert. Contador is 1 minute down on Landa and Zakarin and the gap grows in the descent.

At the closing climb Landa, Zakarin, Kruijswijk, Hesjedal, Aru and Uran regroup and a little later Zakarin is dropped. With 2 km’s left Aru attacks and Uran is the only rider capable to react. But when Aru accelerates again the Colombian bows his head and the Italian races to his second win in a row. Brilliant performance once again!

Albert Contador loses 2’25” and so he retains his pink jersey.