The GC positions of the key riders show, for the majority of them, how stages 15, 16, 19 and 20 were the key race defining moments in the 2010 Giro d’Italia.

Stage 15: Passo Zoncolan

The most feared week of racing started with a "warm-up" ride on the Zoncolan

The Basso and Evans group starting to feel their way up the early part of the Zoncolan.

Arroyo the holder of the pink jersey –it was to be the day that Basso pulled back some serious time and suddenly saw himself in contention to take the pink jersey any day soon. Basso was masterful against Evans and started to dominate the race from this point on.

Gilberto Simoni the previous “king of the Zoncolan” showed he can mix it in the mountains

Rigoberto Uran gritting his teeth on the lower parts of the Zoncolan

Vinokourov: biding his time

Result:
1 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 6:21:58
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team at 0:01:19
3 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli at 0:01:30

Classification after the Zoncolan (Stage 15)
1 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 67:48:42
2 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank at 0:02:35
3 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo at 0:03:33
4 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team at 0:04:21
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team at 0:04:43

Stage 16: Plan de Corones Time Trial

Bradley Wiggins: Animating the crowd on the start of the gravel section.

Cadel Evans: won a lot of fans at this years Giro. He was the 2nd most combatitive rider and 2nd in the TT.

David Arroyo: Pretty in Pink still, but only just!

Stefan Garzelli: Winner of the Corones TT - ten years after winning the Giro d’Italia. Photo copyright Fotoreporter Sirotti.

Ivan Basso: kept his losses to a minimum against stronger TT opponents.

Richie Porte: A great Giro d’Italia and he justly deserved and should be proud of his Young Rider Jersey.

Carlos Sastre: back problems hampered his TT result and didn’t help is final bid to win pink in Italy

Result:
1 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 0:41:28
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team at 0:00:42
3 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale at 0:00:54

Classification after the Corones TT (Stage 16)
1 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 68:32:26
2 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo at 0:02:27
3 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0:02:36
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team at 0:03:09
5 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team at 0:04:36

Stage 19: Passo Mortirolo

After a few days in the mountains the pain of the Mortirolo starts to show on the faces of the riders :

Stage 20: Bormio - Passa del Tonale (Cima Coppi - Passo Gavia)

The chasing group consisting of Sastre and Simoni amongst others

The Basso Group chasing down the break

Evans safely tucked in the 2nd group and conserving his energy for what would be a final tremendous effort to try and take the pink jersey

Result:
1 Johann Tschopp (Swi) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 5:26:47
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team at 0:00:16
3 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo at 0:00:25

General Classification after Stage 20:
1 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 87:23:00
2 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne at 0:01:15
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo at 0:02:56
4 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli at 0:02:57
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team at 0:03:47

Final 2010 Giro d'Italia General Classification (after stage 21):
1 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 87:44:01
2 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne at 0:01:51
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo at 0:02:37
4 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli at 0:02:50
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team at 0:03:27

Watch 2010 Giro d'Italia video highlights in our Roadcycling.com videos section.

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