Fabio Aru (Astana) confirmed his excellent comeback in the Giro d’Italia when he made it two in a row by winning the prestigious penultimate stage that included the famous Colle delle Finestre. After his teammate Mikel Landa had dropped everybody on the main climb and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), the Basque was asked to wait for his team leader before slotting into a domestique role to set Aru up for a late solo attack that gave him the win. Contador limited his losses sufficiently to defend his overall lead and now just needs to avoid bad luck tomorrow to win the race overall.

A few days ago Fabio Aru looked like a rider who was on the verge on a complete breakdown and found himself in a position where he was very likely to lose his spot on the Giro d’Italia podium. If anyone had suggested that he would go on to win the final two mountain stages of the race, no one would probably have believed them.

However, the Italian has made a remarkable comeback. Already yesterday he showed that he had managed to turn the situation completely around when he made a great solo attack on the final climb to Cervinia to win his second stage ever in his home grand tour. Today he did what most had thought impossible when he also added the prestigious penultimate stage that included the Colle delle Finestre, to his growing palmares.

However, the win came under controversial circumstances after his teammate Mikel Landa was clearly asked to wait for his team leader despite being in a position where he could potentially win the race overall. A big attack by the Basque on the Finestre had made Alberto Contador crack and the race leader suddenly found himself alone on the steep gravel roads.

Nonetheless, the team management decided to go for the stage win with Aru and so the Basque waited for his leader before starting to ride tempo in the small group that had formed. In the end, Aru launched an attack and after he had dropped Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale) and Rigoberto Uran (Etixx-QuickStep), he rode away to another solo victory.

"Tinkoff started the climb at the head of the peloton, then after a few kilometres we moved to the front, first with Paolo Tiralongo, then with Dario Cataldo," Aru said. "We were still there with Diego Rosa, Tanel Kangert, me and Mikel Landa.

"Mikel made a truly incredible move, opened a gap, and demonstrated for the umpteenth time in this Giro that he has great talent. Then, when Alberto was dropped, I was with Hesjedal, and Urán. I stayed on the wheels until I heard that the gap had opened, and then I started to pull too. We joined the leaders and Mikel did exceptional work.

"In my view our tactics were spot on, and even more important than that is that the team was exceptional and everyone gave their best.

"I have a fantastic relationship with Mikel. We get on very well together and his behaviour during this Giro has been great. I will always remember that he waited 6 or 7 kilometres on the Mortirolo when I didn't have the legs to stay with him, and then he rode up to Contador and afterwards went off to win a beautiful stage. He didn't ride his own race but he waited for me, which does him honour, and and I thank him. You all saw what he did today. He demonstrated yet again that he is a great champion. He has won two stages during this Giro, and in the future he'll certainly achieve great things. 

"[I miss] experience. I'm acquiring it over the years. I learned a great deal last year, and every year since I turned professional, and even as an amateur. To ride stage races, you need experience. I need to improve against the clock, but in everything.

"This year has been a different year, because I started in November with responsibility and pressure. I've always said that I'm not afraid of pressure: it motivates me to work better, but it's one thing to start a Giro d'Italia with no pressure and responsibilities, and something else to start with great responsibilities on the part of a team, the media, the fans, and myself. I've had some setbacks, but I've got back to them, and I think that, as well as these two stage wins, this is my victory.  

"When I've had the legs to attack, me or my team, we haven't held back. It's simply respect I feel towards someone who is not just a great rider but a great person."