Giro 2014: Italian sensation Fabio Aru powers to victory

Stage 15 is flat for 207 kilometres and then the finale offers a 18 kilometres climb up Plan di Montecampione. Another tribute to Marco Pantani adn just as spectacuaur as yesterday's ride. Young Italian Fabio Aru outpowers each and everyone, just like Rigoberto Uran takes valuable seconds from Cadel Evans. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 15th stage Giro 2014

1. Fabio Aru (ita)
2. Fabio Duarte (col) +0.21
3. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.22
4. Pierre Rolland (fra) s.t.
5. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.42
6. Rafal Majka (pol) + 0.57
7. Franco Pelizotti (ita) + 1.08
8. Daniel Moreno (spa) s.t.
9. Ryder Hesjedal (can) + 1.13
10. Cadel Evans (aus) s.t.

GC after stage 15
1. Rigoberto Urán (col)
2. Cadel Evans (aus) + 1.03
3. Rafal Majka (pol) + 1.50
4. Fabio Aru (ita) + 2.24
5. Nairo Quintana (col) + 2.40
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 2.42
7. Wilco Kelderman (Nld) + 3.04
8. Pierre Rolland (fra) + 4.47
9. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) + 5.44
10. Wout Poels (Nld)+6.23

Stage Report

16 kilometres into the race Maxime Bouet, Daniele Ratto, Johan Le Bon, Andre Cardoso, Damiano Cunego, Adam Hansen, Simon Geschke, Luca Paolini and Fabio Felline are off on an adventure. With 14 more kilometres done Rodolfo Torres, Jackson Rodriguez and Enrico Barbin have crossed and the gap is 1’44”.

The escapees gain grows but in the pack Omega Pharma had everything under control. After 70 kilometres the gap is 5 minutes.

Cunego is best placed upfront – at 10’32” from Uran. Cannondale-rider Ratto (image) lowest in the GC at 2h10’25”. His team is delivering a disappointing Giro: Basso lost a lot of time and Viviani can’t win any sprints.

With 78 kilometres to go the gap is considerable by now – 8’17”. But then the pack reacts and the minutes go up in a puff of smoke. With 40 kilometres left it’s 5 minutes. So it’s still 20 kilomtres to the foot of the climb.

Once the road goes up Adam Hansen launches his attack. Arredondo does exactly the same in the pack, eyeing up mountains points to secure his KOM lead. Pirazzi joins him. The gap to Hansen is 1’30” minutes.

Andre Cardoso joins Hansen, just like Felline and Torres. But the real finale open with an attack by Rolland with 5 kilometres left. Uran counters and the pack re-groups. Rolland does it again with the result of the Frenchmen being upfront with Uran-Aru-Quintana.

In de final kilometres Aru is by far strongest and the young Sardinian dances to victory up the Montecampione. Quintana somes in 3th and outsmarts Uran, who takes 0’31” from runner up Cadel Evans.