Surpassing Saturday's winning effort, Emanuele Sella drove a breakaway for all of Stage 15 and survived the six major climbs to cross the finish line with a 2-minute gap at Passo Fedaia.
Spain's Alberto Contador of Team Astana, left, fought his own battle among the GC contenders, eventually grabbing a half-minute lead over his nearest rivals for the pink jersey. Five riders sit a minute or less behind Contador, however.
Monday's individual time trial may be the stage that solidifies the lead for an overall champion for the Giro d'Italia, which ends next Sunday. The 7.9-mile race against the clock climbs right to the summit of Plan de Corones, at times taking a 16%, 20% and even 24% gradient to the top.
Breaks
Sunday's action began with Sella of CSF Group attacking in the first mile of the 94 mile stage between Arabba and Passo Fedaia. He was soon joined by nearly a dozen, but that quickly dwidled to a five-man break after the first climb on Passo Pordoi.
Those five expanded to nine on the next climb — Paso di San Pellegrino.
Team LPR, the team of defending champion Danilo Di Luca and current leader Gabriele Bosisio, led the peloton and started chasing the breakaway when the difference reached only about two minutes.
On subsequent climbs, the breakaway groups splintered until it contained just three riders, and a chase group developed that included the favorites Contador, Di Luca, Gilberto Simoni, Denis Menchov.
Finish
Sella took off on his own again with 7 miles left in the race, and finished 2 minutes ahead of No. 2, teammate Domenico Pozzovivo.
Riccardo Ricco of Saunier Duval-Scott attacked in the end and finished 2:11 behind. His effort puts him in 2nd place overall, 33 seconds behind Contador. He was followed by Di Luca, Simoni, Contador and Menchov.
Monday should prove interesting, considering Contador, winner of the 2007 Tour de France, is still nursing a broken elbow.
More race details at CyclingNews and VeloNews.
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