Italian Paolo Tiralongo won the ninth stage of the Giro d’Italia yesterday as his Astana team leader Fabio Aru snatched back one second on leader Alberto Contador.
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Veteran Tiralongo, 37, counter-attacked out of a breakaway group of 10 riders 14km from the end to catch long time lone leader Tom Jelte Slagter, who had escaped with 70km still to ride.
By that point the Cannondale-Garmin rider was spent and Sicilian Tiralongo left him in his wake to claim the victory at the end of the 224km stage from Benevento to San Giorgio del Sannio.
“I got into the breakaway but the aim was to act as a bridge for Fabio on the last climb,” explained Tiralongo. “But the team changed plans during the race, they gave me carte blanche to go for the stage win.”
Dutchman Steven Kruisjwijk, who had come so close to a solo victory on Saturday, took second at 21sec with Simon Geschke of Germany heading the breakaway sprint finish a further two seconds back as Slagter faded to seventh.
Winner from the breakaway – Paolo Tiralongo – ST9 #Giro pic.twitter.com/sDtOv6LBCZ
— Astana Pro Team (@AstanaTeam) May 17, 2015
But behind the breakaway riders, Aru had attacked out of the main peloton and while Contador and Richie Porte matched his kick, Colombian Rigoberto Uran could not, and lost around 45sec.
“I’m feeling better and better,” said Contador, 32, who crashed badly on Thursday, injuring his shoulder. “On the last climb, Aru put in a strong attack but I managed to control the situation.”
The 2008 Giro winner and reigning Vuelta a Espana champion added: “Uran was behind and that was a chance to take some time out of him because he remains dangerous in the overall standings.”
Tuesday’s 10th stage is a pan-flat 200km from Civitanova Marche to Forli.
