Giro d'Italia (2011) Photos; Stage 15: Conegliano → Gardeccia Val di Fassa, 229 km
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Stage 15 was a long slog through the Dolomites featuring five big climbs		share this photo
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Climbing the Cima Coppi of this year's race (Passo Giau, 2236m)		share this photo
The main break with Carlos Sastre (Geox-TMC) and Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel Euskadi). Sastre finished 52nd + 21:02, but as you'll see Nieve faired much better.		share this photo
When Stefano Garzelli went off the front of the break, Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel Euskadi) chased him for over 40 km		share this photo
On the last three climbs, starting with Passo Giau, Alberto Contador put the screws to Vincenzo Nibali when ever he could		share this photo
Jose Rujano leading the chase of Nieve and Garzelli. Rujano finished 6th + 2:35.		share this photo
Every time Nibali was dropped by Alberto Contador on a climb, he used to his exceptional descending skills to catch back on		share this photo
The gorge at the base of Passo Fedaia, the second last climb		share this photo
Classic Dolomites rock formations		share this photo
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Stefano Garzelli was first to the top of Passo Fedaia (13 km of 8%), the second last climb on the day		share this photo
but, Stefano Garzelli ran out of gas on the 6.2 km 10% Rifugio Gardeccia finishing climb to the Val di Fassa ski resort		share this photo
Alberto Contador dropping his GC rivals (Scarponi and Nibali) on Rifugio Gardeccia, the finishing climb		share this photo
Head of the race: Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel Euskadi) caught and passed Stefano Garzelli on the final climb		share this photo
Mikel Nieve pedaling squares over the longest km of his life		share this photo
Contador closing in on the riders up the road		share this photo
Michele Scarponi clawed his way back to finish within 8s of Alberto Contador		share this photo
Joaquím Rodríguez (Spa) Katusha Team and Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale		share this photo
Epic is an overused term in cycling, but not today; the feeble victory salute from exhausted winner, Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel Euskadi). "The last kilometers were eternal. On the finish line, I did not have the strength to even lift my arms."		share this photo
Check out the elapsed time. 229 km in 7 hours and 27 minutes... that's just 30 kmh		share this photo
Stefano Garzelli finished 1:41 behind Nieve		share this photo
Alberto Contador in the distance finished only 10 seconds behind Garzelli who had a 6 minute lead at the base of the 6 km finishing climb. Put differently, Garzelli lost a minute per km on the finishing climb.		share this photo
Alberto Contador called this the "hardest day of racing in his life"		share this photo
After Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre, John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale, José Rujano Guillen (Ven) Androni Giocattoli crossed 4th, 5th and 6th, Vincenzo Nibali and Joaquím Rodríguez Oliver crossed 7th and 8th + 3:34		share this photo
Mikel Nieve celebrates a win he won't soon forget. It was the second win by an Euskaltel Euskadi rider in two days after Igor Anton won Monte Zoncolan yesterday. Previously, Euskaltel Euskadi hadn't won a stage in five Giro d'Italias spanning 17 years.		share this photo
Alberto Contador showed a combination of relief and exhaustion at the end of the day.		share this photo
Alberto Contador continued to extend his overall lead which is now 4:20 on Michele Scarponi		share this photo
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Alberto Contador's champagne celebration is always worth a shot...		share this photo
or two		share this photo
Stefano Garzelli was awarded the KOM Jersey for his long solo effort today that came up slightly short for the stage win.		share this photo
My intentions in this Giro were to do my best to stay as close as possible to my captain Igor Anton. Yesterday, I went well and so at the meeting this morning we all agreed, including Anton, I'd try to escape.		share this photo
"The night is not long enough for me to talk about today's stage. It’s been a long and very difficult stage, really incredible."		share this photo
Giro d'Italia (2011) Photos; Stage 15: Conegliano → Gardeccia Val di Fassa, 229 km
« Stage 14 photos	return to: « Giro d'Italia 2011 Live Dashboard  |  Giro d'Italia (2011) photo gallery	Stage 16 photos »