Contador retains pink jersey in Giro, just barely

Alberto Contador held onto the slimmest of leads — by just 4 seconds — as the Giro d'Italia routed the peloton over three major climbs on Friday, including a mountaintop finish.

The winner of last year's Tour de France faded as challengers attacked on the final climb, and at one point he had lost his overall lead “on the road.” But Contador had one last push left for Monte Pora and it gave him the margin he needed to survive.

As the peloton heads over Mortirolo and the legendary Gavia for Saturday's penultimate stage, Ricardo Ricco (Saunier Duval) sits just 4 seconds behind and defending champion Danilo Di Luca sits in third place, 21 seconds behind.

Astana

Contador's Astana team is throwing it all into the Giro this year, as the directors did not invite the team to the Tour de France this year because of past doping transgressions by some former members of the team.

The Spaniard had the help of Levi Leipheimer, Andreas Kloden and Antonio Colom on Friday; Di Luca had LPR Brakes teammate and former multiple Giro winner Paolo Savoldelli. Ricco was left alone, as his primary support in the mountains had crashed out earlier in the Giro.

Tinkoff's Vasil Kiryienka won the stage by 4:36, after building up more than a 20-minute lead at one point.

Di Luca

In the contest for overall winner, Di Luca scored the most. He climbed from sixth place to third by attacking on two mountains and scoring time bonuses at the summits.

Ricco launched a solo attack from Contador's group on the final climb, but strong climbers Franco Pellizoti (Liquigas) and Emanuele Sella (CSF) chased to retain their standings and Contador stuck with them to the top.

The overall leaders are:

1. Alberto Contador (Spain), Astana
2. Riccardo Ricco' (Italy), Saunier Duval, :04 behind 
3. Danilo Di Luca (Italy), Team L.P.R, 0:21
4. Marzio Bruseghin (Italy), Lampre, 2:00
5. Franco Pellizotti (Italy), Liquigas, 2:05
6. Denis Menchov (Russia), Rabobank, 2:47
7. Emanuele Sella (Italy), CSF Group Navigare, 4:25
8. Broeck Jurgen Van Den (Belgium), Silence-Lotto, 4:26
9. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy), CSF Group Navigare, 5:25
10. Gilberto Simoni (Italy), Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, 7:18

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