Race leader launches late attack but is reeled back in
Wednesday 20 May 2015 17:54, UK
Breakaway rider Ilnur Zakarin claimed a solo victory on stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia as Alberto Contador retained the overall lead.
Zakarin (Katusha) formed part of a high-pedigree 10-man breakaway but left all of his fellow escapees behind with an attack 23km out and hung on to win at the Imola race track by 53 seconds from runner-up Carlos Betancur (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and third-placed Franco Pellizotti (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec).
Zakarin, who caused a surprise by winning the Tour de Romandie earlier this month, was the sixth breakaway winner from the 11 stages so far.
Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) launched an attack on the final climb of the day with around 8km remaining and briefly dropped second-placed Fabio Aru (Astana), but several teams chased the Spaniard down and all of the contenders for overall victory crossed the line together.
It means Contador remains three seconds ahead of Aru (Astana) and 46 seconds in front of third-placed Mikel Landa, with Team Sky’s Richie Porte, who was given a two-minute time penalty following an illegal wheel change on stage 10, staying 3min 9sec down in 12th.
Contador said: "There wasn't much terrain to have a go today but I knew that there were a few riders who weren't enjoying themselves and weren't feeling good, so I had a go."
The Giro continues on Thursday with a rolling 190km 12th stage from Imola to Vicenza (Monte Berico).
Stage 12 result
1 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha, 3:55:08
2 Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +53secs
3 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, same time
4 Benat Intxausti (Esp) Movistar, st
5 Diego Rosa (Ita) Astana, st
6 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, st
7 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Cannondale-Garmin, st
8 Maciej Paterski (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice, +58
9 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing, st
10 Juan Jose Lobato (Esp) Movistar, +1:02
Selected others
20 Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
21 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana, st
31 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, st
General classification
1 Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo, 46:54:19
2 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana, +3secs
3 Mikel Landa (Esp) Astana, +46
4 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Astana, +1:16
5 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo, +1:46
6 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Etixx – Quick-Step, +2:10
7 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar, +2:12
8 Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing, +2:20
9 Andrey Amador (Cos) Movistar, +2:24
10 Leopold Konig (Cze) Team Sky, +2:30
Selected other
12 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, +3:09
