Giro 2015 Stage 9: Tiralongo solos to victory

Stage 9 features a lot of climbs and gives way to a breakaway of eleven. The last peak is crested with 12 kilometres left and gives way to an interesting finale. Slagter is caught by Tiralongo, who leaves him with 4 kilometres to go and solos to the win. Kruijswijk finishes second. At the false flat arrival Aru sprints to a 1 second gain, but Contador is still in pink. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 9th stage 2015 Giro

1. Paolo Tiralongo (ita)
2. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.21
3. Simon Geschke (ger) + 0.23
4. Amaël Moinard (fra) s.t.
5. José Herrada (spa) s.t.
6. Carlos Betancur (col) s.t.
7. Tom-Jelte Slagter (nld) s.t.
8. Kenny Elissonde (fra) s.t.
9. Ryder Hesjedal (can) + 0.27
10. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.56
11. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.57
12. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.

GC after stage 9
1. Alberto Contador (spa)
2. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.03
3. Richie Porte (ita) + 0.22
4. Mikel Landa (spa) + 0.46
5. Dario Cataldo (ita) + 1.16
6. Roman Kreuziger (cze) + 1.46
7. Giovanni Visconti (ita) + 2.02
8. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 2.10
9. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 2.20
10. Andrey Amador (crc) + 2.24

Race results
The pace is high and in the openings kilometres jumps are all over the place. Eventually Kruijswijk, Betancur, Slagter, Colbrelli, Moinard, Hesjedal, Herrada, Geschke, Belkov, Tiralongo and Elissonde manage to break away. The eleven race to a 6 minutes gain, reached at the top of Monte Terminio. Geschke is first to crest, Betancur is second, Tiralongo third.

At the Molella Belkov and Colbrelli are dropped. Geschke takes most KOM-points again, thus becming the new leader KOM leader, and in the descent Belkov rejoins the front group. Tom-Jelte Slagter jumps of the front group and goes solo. Reaching the foot of the closing climb Passo Serra he enjoys a 2 minutes lead over his chasers and the pack is 5 minutes down.

Tiralongo tries to bridge the gap to Slagter, while Aru attacks on the lower slopes. Contador, Porte and Landa are on his wheel, but Uran is dropped.

At the top Slagter’s gain is down to 0’07”, the other escapees are at 0’24” down and Contador et al at 1’20”. Tiralango joins Slagter and with 4 km’s left he leaves his companion on a small climb. When Slagter is caught Kruijswijk heads for the front of the race, but he is too late and Tiralongo solos to victory.