Fabio Aru goes in the final week of the Giro d'Italia in second overall. However, he sits a massive 2.35 behind Alberto Contador in the overall standings and may have to settle for another podium spot after his third place in 2014.

Speaking at today's rest day press conference, Aru was under pressure to put in a big attack to try to take the overall victory instead of trying to defend second place. However, the Italian made it clear that he would prefer to confirm his progress as a grand tour rider by taking a runner-up spot than gambling everything on one big impresa to satisfy the Italian fans.

“Lets see how I feel tomorrow,” he said. “I’d love to try an impresa, it’d be motivating and these are perhaps the stages to do it if you’re feeling good. But lets remember that were racing against Alberto Contador. I’ve never lost hope and never will but we know that Alberto is on great form and can control things even if he’s isolated from his teammates. We haven’t talked tactics yet and it’s not easy to plan ahead in the third week of the Giro. You could have a crisis at any moment.

“The fans and the media always expect you do something special but when I was ill before the Giro del Trentino I stayed focused because I’ve always wanted to confirm what I’ve achieved so far in my career. I think that’s important. I don’t want to pull off an exploit and then disappear. I’m here fighting in the Giro and will try to give it everything in the final days but I don’t want to promise anything.

“I’m not presumptuous. Your body isn’t like a car; you can’t just top it up. For quite a few days I struggled but I was really enthusiastic at the start of the Giro. I’ve perhaps paid for that a little.”

He also played down any suggestion of an internal rivalry with Astana teammate Mikel Landa.

“Landa has shown he’s very strong," he said. "He deserved to win, was strong at the Giro del Trentino and is in great form here. I’m happy he’s a teammate and not a rival…”