"It's the first time in a mountain stage that I see Contador on TV while I've already arrived". Philippe Gilbert was laughing on stage after treating himself to one of those finals that only he can do: an exceptional finisseur, purebred champion of the Ardennes classics, the Belgian achieved his second success at the Giro under the summer sun of Verbania after victory under the autumn rain of Monte Berico in Vicenza. A top-rated rider who is honoring the Giro unlike other stars of the world pedal, who only came to train, like the great Tom Boonen, who left the scene without leaving a trace.
Said of Gilbert, one cannot fail to mention Contador even today. He has so far failed to win a stage, but day after day he is demolishing the strength and nerves of his rivals. Also due to bad luck which this time did not hit him, but Mikel Landa, who after the victories in Campiglio and Aprica became his main rival instead of Aru. The Basque was involved in a fall at the foot of Monte Ologno.
The pink jersey did not miss the opportunity to reciprocate the rudeness suffered on Tuesday, mindful of the fury with which the Astana started when it was he who punctured on the Aprica descent. That's why Contador took the lead in shooting with all his Tinkoff-Saxo team, finding for the occasion also an important ally in Ryder Hesjedal, the Canadian who hardly ever wins but who never sinks. On the Mortirolo Contador offered a royal show by catching Aru and Landa halfway up and then giving the Sardinian a nasty jab. On the Ologno, with mangy slopes also due to the breath-taking heat, Landa was unable to do the same, climbing together with Aru and Amador without ever giving the impression of being able to catch up with Contador.
So at the finish line the two leaders of Astana reached 7'18” behind Gilbert but above all one minute and 13 seconds with a general classification that speaks more and more in favor of the pink jersey. With 5'15" on Landa and 6'05" on Aru, three days from the end of the Giro, we can't see who can threaten Contador's primacy anymore even if today and tomorrow the Giro will climb impervious peaks, with finishes at Cervinia and the day after in Sestrière.
The thrust inflicted by Pinto's ace from Madrid on the Basque Landa takes a lot of spice off the hypothesized all-Spanish duel on the grim Alps. It is more probable that Contador, once he has put the Giro in his pocket, wants to brand it with a stage win that has been missing up to now . Also in order not to be counted among those few riders, like Balmamion and Hesjedal, he won the pink jerseys of the Giro without ever winning a stage.
