What we saw yesterday in the last five kilometers of the final climb to Abetone is a taste of what will be the leitmotif of the Giro: a fantastic three-way challenge for the final victory between Contador – new pink jersey -, Aru and Porte. It was the Spaniard who lit the fuse, changed his bike at the foot of Abetone, with an acceleration that allowed him to gain about thirty meters on his two rivals.
Behind them, a vacuum was immediately created in which Rigoberto Uran was once again swallowed up, who day after day – due to tracheitis, he justifies himself – is accumulating a worrying delay. Contador, after the showdown, however, realized that Aru and Porte were there, immediately behind and he calmed down. No sooner had the trio reassembled than Aru sprinted, transforming from hunter to hare. Roles reversed, this time, it was Contador who took it upon himself to promptly mend the hole with Porte to his wheel.
The action of the three big names was one that left its mark: if it wasn't enough to catch up with the Slovenian Jan Polanc, courageous solo winner of the stage, and the French Sylvain Chavanel, second at 1'31”, he set fire to the race, spreading the group and knocking out the pink jersey Clark immediately in difficulty even if the climb was not the breathtaking one.
Together they reached the finish line to compete in the sprint for third place which was worth 4 seconds of good. And Aru, the way he sprinted beating the Pistolero and the leader of Team Sky, sent out a signal of strength and freshness that must have alerted Contador: winning this won't be easy for the Spanish champion, in the pink jersey since yesterday but closely followed by the Sardinian just 2” and from Doors to 20”.
Some pointed out that once wearing the jersey of primacy Contador has always won both the Giro and the Tour and the Vuelta. Only in last year's Critérium du Dauphinée did the Spaniard, despite wearing the yellow jersey in the fifth stage, not win the competition that went to the American Talansky.
