As the GC favorites battled in the mountains of the 165-kilometer stage 15, Trek Factory Racing, like most, pedaled to reach the end and welcomed in the second rest day of the Giro d’Italia tomorrow. Little changed in the top standings as Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) continues to lead the race over Fabio Aru (Astana) and Andrey Amador (Movistar).

Sport director Adriano Baffi said about today's stage to the TFR.com:

“Today the only possibility for us was to put Fabio Felline in a breakaway, and after yesterday he was really motivated. But the first hour was really, really fast – 47.8 km/h with climbing! – so when the breakaway went it was all climbers. But in the end the breakaway was almost for nothing, so it mattered little.”

Kristof Vandewalle was an expected non-starter for the team after breaking his finger in his spectacular crash in the time trial yesterday.

Eugenio Alafaci fought through the tough mountain stage to successfully ride over the finish line, a huge achievement after his high-speed tumble in stage 13.

“It was really, really hard. I think one of the hardest days of my life. I have pain everywhere – in the back, the arms…I just want to have a good massage and rest.”

The Giro now enters its final week with six stages remaining. Trek Factory Racing will be targeting the two flat stages on Wednesday (stage 17) and Sunday (Stage 21) for Giacomo Nizzolo, but will also look to Fabio Felline, who has shown great form in the Giro thus far, and will hope he can take whatever opportunity may arise in the final week.

The maglia rossa is also a close battle with Giacomo Nizzolo, Elia Viviani (Sky) and Nicola Boem locked in a tight fight in the points competition, one that may well come down to the finish line in Milan on Sunday.

Adriano Baffi gave his thoughts on the Giro so far, and about the exciting week that lies ahead for the team:

“First of all I must stress again that the Giro in the first two weeks was very, very hard. The speed was very, very fast. We have two riders that this is their first time in a Grand Tour, and Boy [van poppel] was on antibiotics when he came, plus Giacomo suffered from allergies in the first two sprint stages. The riders did 200% for what they can and honestly we have two times second place - and it’s always difficult to be second - we also have two times fifth, and are in the fight for the points classification.”

“I think before the Giro I can say I expected a bit more, but this is what we have, and we have gone to our limit to try. We still have our morale – the red points jersey is still a possibility and Wednesday is our next big goal. We have to cross our fingers that we will have one victory and the red jersey when it’s all done.”