Movistar victory for Xavier Tondo

Vasil Kiryienka's great victory ©Daniele Badolato - LaPresse

May 29th, 11. Team Movistar achieved what they set out to do after when they continued the Giro d'Italia after the death of teammate Xavier Tondo - they took a grand victory.

As the last road stage of the tour, the Movistar riders knew today was the last chance to pay Tondo the best tribute they could.

It was Vasil Kiryienka who set out with big intentions soon after the start. He joined the day's break of 13, only to leave them with 40km left to ride in the 240km stage.

The Belarusian rode solo up the 18km feared climb of the Colle delle Finestre, them Sestriere.

He had been worried about the peloton closing in on his breakaway group, but out front the 29 year old extended what was a 4min gap, to 6min.

He crossed the line with his head raised to the heavens and arms pointing upwards, his win was for Xavier.

"This was the best way to remember a teammate who was with us only for this season, but yet seemed to have been here for so much time," Kiryienka said. 

"I didn't know Xavi [very well] but shared some moments with him in the Ardennes classics week and he was an enthusiastic person with cycling.

"We decided that the best form to pay him tribute was staying in the Giro, and I think we made a good choice because winning in such a hard mountain stage and into such a long break, it was a king of winning that he liked so much."

Contador sitting comfortably between Nibali and Scarponi ©Franck Faugere - LaPresse

General Classification podium battle

Behind Kiryienka was a totally different race.

The General Classification riders also knew today was the last road stage to achieve their goals.

Liquigas set the pace up the final mountain climbs as they tried to wear down their rivals to allow leader Vincenzo Nibali to move up from his overall 3rd place.  

The GC group started the Colle delle Finestre with 30 riders, soon enough there were only a dozen riders, then only six, as kilometre after kilometre of climbing took its toll.

Nibali himself was dislodged by the pace at the top of the long climb but was able to rely on his great descending skills to reach his rivals once more.

On the final climb of the 2011 Giro d'Italia, the Sestriere, the favourites had turns trying to escape, but none were ultimately successful.

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank), with his 5min lead in the maglia rosa competition, stayed in control and calmy followed all the big attacks by his two main rivals.

Nibali was once again dropped, with 2nd placed GC rider Michele Scarponi (Lampre) extending his lead on Nibali by 22sec. In the battle for 2nd and 3rd place, Scarponi now leads Nibali by 56sec. Contador's lead is a huge 5m18s. 

Tomorrow the riders face the final 25km of the tour alone, the individual time trial. 

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