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2015 Giro d’Italia Stage 7: Diego Ulissi wins sprint in Fiuggi, Contador stays in race

May 15, 2015
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Diego Ulissi (Italy/Lampre) inspired a passionate celebration from his teammates by triumphing in the bunch sprint on Friday’s very long stage of the Giro d’Italia. It was Lampre’s second stage victory in three days. Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff-Saxo) retained the pink jersey.

One of the most significant moments of the stage was when pink jersey wearer Contador signed in before the start. After his separated left shoulder suffered in the sprint crash Thursday, it wasn’t clear whether or not the race leader would be able to carry on.

The second try at a breakaway was the one that succeeded, and even though the quartet faced headwinds, it clawed out a lead of over 10:00. Marco Bandiera (Italy/Androni Giocattoli) was in his second consecutive escape. It would be a long day for all, what with the length of 264-km–the longest stage in 16-years–and a consistent headwind over rolling terrain. BMC, Trek and Movistar chipped in to help Tinkoff-Saxo set the pace.

The final 10-km began with 5-km of 4.4% gradient before rolling. Finally, there was a kick-up inside the last kilometre before a flat last 300-metres. As the race wheeled closer to the finish town of Fiuggi, Cannondale-Garmin became interested in driving the peloton. The gap to the fugitives was only a minute with 32-km to go. Suddenly things got very animated. The last breakaway standing was Bulgarian Nikolay Mihaylov of CCC, who submitted with 20-km remaining.

Tinkoff-Saxo decided to up the tempo heading to the little uncategorized climb and plenty of riders dropped off the back. Once inside 4-km, Sky took over but Orica-GreenEdge led the peloton under the red kite. Lampre’s lead out man Max Richeze (Argentina) was working for Sacha Modolo (Italy) but Modolo couldn’t make the move. Ulissi came up the other side of the peloton to finish ahead of Juan Lobato (Spain/Movistar).

Ulissi won two stages in last year’s Giro but failed a drug test for excessive salbutamol, found in Ventolin inhalers. He was handed a reduced, nine-month ban.

Though no one dared to attack the sore Contador on a flat stage, the gloves will be off at the end of Saturday’s stage, as the race faces the 12.5% Cat. 1 Campitello Matese ascent.

2015 Giro d’Italia Stage 7
1) Diego Ullisi (Italy/Lampre) 7:22:21
2) Juan Lobato (Spain/Movistar) s.t.
3) Simon Gerrans (Australia/Orica-GreenEdge) s.t.
27) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Cannondale-Garmin) +0:03
63) Hugo Houle (Canada/Ag2r) s.t.


2015 Giro d’Italia GC
1) Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff-Saxo) 27:48:00
2) Fabio Aru (Italy/Astana) +0:02
3) Richie Porte (Australia/Sky) +0:20
29) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Cannondale-Garmin) +6:11
105) Hugo Houle (Canada/Ag2r) +55:29