Giro d'Italia (2012) Photos; Stage 20: Caldes → Passo dello Stelvio, 219 km
« Stage 19 photos	return to: « Giro d'Italia 2012 Live Dashboard  |  Giro d'Italia (2012) photo gallery	Stage 21 photos »
The morning sign-in in Treviso (as in three visuals for it's scenic lookouts)		share this photo
Race leader, Joaquim Rodriguez enjoying his ninth morning in Pink		share this photo
There was lots of climbing early on before getting to Passo del Mortirolo and Passo dello Stelvio		share this photo
Oliver Zaugg (RadioShack-Nissan) was off the front on Passo del Mortirolo		share this photo
Oliver Zaugg (RadioShack-Nissan) had a six minute lead at one point, but he finished the day 40th + 25:25		share this photo
The top U.S. rider in the race, Christian Vande Velde, led most of the chasing today for his Garmin - Barracuda teammate Ryder Hesjedal		share this photo
Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM) attacking off the front of the chase on Passo del Mortirolo		share this photo
The GC contenders watched as Thomas De Gendt (8th on GC) rolls away, not to be seen again		share this photo
Race leader Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Katusha) put a dig in on the steepest (22%) part of Passo del Mortirolo, but Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin - Barracuda) was able to follow		share this photo
Passo del Mortirolo panoramic		share this photo
Michele Scarponi (Lampre - ISD) and Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin - Barracuda) working their way up the narrow climb as the fans look on		share this photo
Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM) and the last break survivor, Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel - Euskadi) staring Passo dello Stelvio		share this photo
Christian Vande Velde still leading the chase		share this photo
Meanwhile, it was one man, Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM), against the mountain he knows so well (he trains here)...		share this photo
... fans waiting at the top of Passo dello Stelvio some 22 km later at the finish (elevation 2758m), the Cima Coppi (highest point) of this year's race		share this photo
The peloton on the endless switchbacks...		share this photo
Switchback panoramic		share this photo
More switchbacks		share this photo
The road on both sides of the Stelvio is a real work of engineering; Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin - Barracuda) led the GC contenders most of the way up the final climb		share this photo
Part of the break, Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD), was the 2nd man up the road about one minute back of Thomas De Gendt.		share this photo
Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM) passing through the snow layer near the top		share this photo
Damiano Cunego holding his own for second		share this photo
Thomas De Gendt		share this photo
Michele Scarponi (Lampre - ISD) attacked off the peloton. He would finish 5th + 3:34		share this photo
A great shot of Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin - Barracuda). Rodriguez would jump past Hesjedal and Scarponi to finish 4th + 3:22 putting Rodriguez 1 pt ahead of Mark Cavendish in the points competition. Hesjedal went on to finish 6th + 3:36 (14s behind Rodriguez)		share this photo
Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) suffered today on his way to 10th + 4:55 while the young rider leader behind him on the road, Rigoberto Uran (Sky) would pass Basso for 8th		share this photo
The five minute gap to the peloton was coming down over the final kms but Thomas De Gendt was on his way to victory		share this photo
As the sign says, 1.3 km to go for Thomas De Gendt		share this photo
Thomas De Gendt wins on Passo dello Stelvio		share this photo
and he was pretty thrilled about it		share this photo
If not for the great ride by De Gendt, we'd be talking about Damiano Cunego's fine performance which turned out to be for 2nd + 56s		share this photo
Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel - Euskadi) hung on for 3rd + 2:55		share this photo
Your stage 20 winner, the champion of the Stelvio, Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM)		share this photo
		share this photo
Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM) says he's climbed the Stelvio around 30x in the past which helped to pace himself today		share this photo
Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) received his 10th Pink Jersey today...		share this photo
He's enjoyed his time in Pink, but it's who receives the last one that counts most. He'll take a slim 31s advantage on Ryder Hesjedal into the final day 32 km time-trial.		share this photo
So long from Passo dello Stelvio and the final road stage of this year's Giro d'Italia		share this photo
Giro d'Italia (2012) Photos; Stage 20: Caldes → Passo dello Stelvio, 219 km
« Stage 19 photos	return to: « Giro d'Italia 2012 Live Dashboard  |  Giro d'Italia (2012) photo gallery	Stage 21 photos »