Giro stage 9: Astana go to war but Contador holds his own

“War!” exclaimed Richie Porte ahead of today’s stage, while Dario Cataldo talked about wanting to destroy the other teams, so you could say this was set to be a showdown from the outset. What ensued may not have been quite so dramatic, but it certainly made for interesting viewing. Astana’s Paolo Tiralongo escaped the breakaway, caught and dropped race leader Tom-Jelte Slagter and cruised the final 4km to a solo win. Meanwhile his team leader Fabio Aru and a legion of Astanites tested all the GC contenders and put significant time into Rigoberto Uran.

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Giro stage 8: Intxausti’s bluff pays off

Lawks-a-mercy, the Giro served up yet another day of superb racing! The start was brutal, the breakaway was intriguing, the chase furious and the finale on the 13 km Campitello Matese was edge-of-your-seat OMG! Movistar’s Benat Intxausti played a blinder, bluffing on the wheels of his companions until he delivered a stinging attack and soloed in for a fabulous win. Alberto Contador chased down attack after attack to stay in the maglia rosa.

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