Tinkoff-Saxo’s team leader Alberto Contador put in a powerful performance in the uphill finish of stage 12 extending his lead in the GC to 17 seconds over rival Fabio Aru. Tinkoff-Saxo once again took the reins in an effort to make the soaking wet Giro stage to Vicenza as hard as possible. Crossing the line, Contador underlines that it was a good day.
2015 Giro d’Italia: Stage 12 Results
Alberto Contador didn’t just take second place on stage 12 behind winner Philippe Gilbert – the Tinkoff-Saxo captain also took 14 seconds on his nearest rival in a close GC. After crossing the line, Contador notes that he had good legs on the tough stage.
“It was yet another very hard day. We rode at 50km/h for the first two hours and then the rain started. The peloton broke apart because of the high speeds, but I felt that I had good legs. Philippe Gilbert was strong on the final climb, but I was focusing on the general classification and I’m very pleased with the outcome today”, says Alberto Contador.
Philippe Gilbert of the BMC Racing Team roared up the finishing straight in the midst of a raging downpour to win Stage 12 of the Giro d’Italia Thursday.
Out of the saddle and furiously rocking his BMC teammachine SLR01 side-to-side on the uphill sprint to the line, the former world road champion overtook solo leader Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team) in the last 200 meters and had time to sit up and celebrate his first victory of the season.
Race leader Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) was runner-up, three seconds later, and Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) finished third. The victory was Gilbert’s second at the Giro in four appearances and the BMC Racing Team’s ninth on the year.
“This is amazing and it is a great feeling,” Gilbert said. “Before the stage this morning, we had a talk and the entire team was really focused because we knew this would be a good stage for me. All of the guys did a great job for me, especially the tremendous effort to bring two guys back late.”
Images copyright RCS Sport
Spanish rider Alberto Contador celebrates the pink jersey of the overall leader on the podium of the 12th stage of the 98th Giro dItalia, Tour of Italy, cycling race between Imola and Vicenza, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
Spanish rider Alberto Contador celebrates the pink jersey of the overall leader on the podium of the 12th stage of the 98th Giro dItalia, Tour of Italy, cycling race between Imola and Vicenza, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
Belgian Philippe Gilbert of the BMC team celebrates as he crosses the finish line under heavy rain to win the 12th stage of the 98th Giro dItalia, Tour of Italy, cycling race between Imola and Vicenza, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
Belgian Philippe Gilbert of the BMC team celebrates as he crosses the finish line under heavy rain to win the 12th stage of the 98th Giro dItalia, Tour of Italy, cycling race between Imola and Vicenza, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
The pack is on the way during the 12th stage of the 98th Giro dItalia, Tour of Italy, cycling race between Imola and Vicenza, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
The pack is on the way during the 12th stage of the 98th Giro dItalia, Tour of Italy, cycling race between Imola and Vicenza, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
Belgian Philippe Gilbert of the BMC team during the 12th stage of the 98th Giro dItalia, Tour of Italy, cycling race between Imola and Vicenza, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
Belgian Philippe Gilbert of the BMC team celebrates on the podium of the 12th stage of the 98th Giro dItalia, Tour of Italy, cycling race between Imola and Vicenza, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
Colombian rider Rigoberto Uran Uran of the Etixx-Quick-Step at the end of the 12th stage of the 98th Giro dItalia, Tour of Italy, cycling race between Imola and Vicenza, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
Belgian Philippe Gilbert of the BMC team celebrates as he crosses the finish line under heavy rain to win the 12th stage of the 98th Giro dItalia, Tour of Italy, cycling race between Imola and Vicenza, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
Italian rider Franco Pellizotti of Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela team during the 12th stage of the 98th Giro dItalia, Tour of Italy, cycling race between Imola and Vicenza, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
Italian rider Fabio Aru (C) of the Astana Pro Team wearig the white jersey on the way to the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
The pack on the way to the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
Riders on the way to the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
Spanish rider Alberto Contador (C) of the Tinkoff-Saxo team,wearing the pink jersey, on the way to the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI
Riders at the start on the way to the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
The overall leade, Spanish rider Alberto Contador prior to the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
The overall leader, Spanish rider Alberto Contador of the Tinkoff-Saxo tea, wearing the pink jersey prior to the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
Australian rider Michael Matthew of the Orica-GreenEdge team prior to the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
The overall leader, Spanish rider Alberto Contador of the Tinkoff-Saxo tea, wearing the pink jersey and Italian rider Fabio Aru of the Astana Pro Team prior to the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
Riders at the start on the way to the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
Spanish rider Alberto Contador, celebrates on the podium after after retaining the overall leader’s pink jersey following the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert of the BMC Racing Team celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert of the BMC Racing Team celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert of the BMC Racing Team celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert of the BMC Racing Team celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert of the BMC Racing Team celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert of the BMC Racing Team celebrates on the podium after winning the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert of the BMC Racing Team celebrates on the podium after winning the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
Australian rider Richie Porte of the Team Sky prior to the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour over 190 km from Imola to Vicenza, Italy, 21 May 2015. ANSA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
