Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert of BMC Racing won his second stage on the Giro d’Italia this year as he triumphed in Thursday’s 18th stage after a late breakaway, while Spaniard Alberto Contador of Tinkoff-Saxo retained the leader’s maglia rosa three days from the race finish in Milan.
Gilbert, the 2012 world champion, came home alone 47 seconds ahead of Italian Francesco Bongiorno of Bardiani-CSF, after a small group marshaled by the Belgian and Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel of IAM Cycling set up the break for home.
“For this Giro, I came to win a stage and try to wear the pink jersey. The first objective has been attained and a second victory is fantastic, especially as it came in such a hard stage,” Gilbert said. “For me, this is a first at this level and to have Adam Moinard up front with me really helped. I knew with that when I was 40 to 50 seconds back at the top of the climb, it was possible. I took some risks, but it paid off in the end.”
Photo: Reuters
The 32-year-old added his second stage win on this year’s Giro after winning last week at Monte Berico for his third career triumph in the race.
Contador also had a successful day when he attacked on the final difficult climb at Monte Ologno 45km from the finish. Second-placed Mikel Landa of Spain lost valuable time and also suffered a crash, which did little to help his cause, while Contador was in a similar position two days earlier.
Contador said that his decision not to wait for Astana’s Landa, who lost a few minutes, had little to do with past history between the two rivals when Landa’s team failed to wait for him in Mortirolo.
“There’s no vendetta,” Contador said. “This situation was different and we knew we had to be in front at the foot of the mountain. There was no room for two riders at the front. I saw that Fabio Aru [third overall] was not having a good day when I looked at his face, so I decided to attack.”
Contador protected his advantage with the help of Canadian former winner Ryder Hesjedal of Cannondale-Garmin and Tinkoff-Saxo teammate Davide Villella as he extended his overall lead over Landa to 5 minutes, 15 seconds. Astana’s Aru trailed by 6 minutes, 5 seconds.
“My goal is to have the pink jersey in Milan even with a one second advantage,” Contador said. “Today was a good stage, but things can change tomorrow.”
Former champion Damiano Cunego abandoned the race after fracturing his collarbone during a crash, medical officials said.
Nippo-Vini Fantini’s Cunego, who won the race in 2004, fell with Italian compatriot Roberto Ferrari of Lampre-Merida after 55km when they were in the main escape of the day.
Cunego was taken to hospital and was also suffering from rib, arm, hip and knee injuries.
Gilbert made his move on the final descent following the category one climb and went clear at the front with 19km to go.
Yesterday’s 19th stage was to be a grueling 236km slog from Gravellona Toce featuring three difficult climbs.
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