Campitello matese, Italy - Despite nursing an injured shoulder, Alberto Contador protected his Giro d'Italia lead on Saturday as Spanish compatriot Benat Intxausti won the mountainous 186km eighth stage.
Two days after dislocating his shoulder in a nasty crash during the sprint finish to the sixth stage, Contador was on the defensive from Fiuggi to Campitello Matese.
He responded to several attacks from chief rivals Fabio Aru and Richie Porte on the final 13km climb to the summit finish, ensuring he lost no time to either as he rolled over the line in fifth.
"It was an important test, a crucial one even. I'm happy," said Contador, a six-time Grand Tour winner and current Vuelta a Espana champion.
"I was able to respond to the attacks of Fabio Aru and Richie Porte, and to manage my efforts.
"My team worked hard at the front of the peloton and at an intermediate sprint I saw there was the chance to to snare two seconds -- I took that.
"Two seconds are always worth it, you have to put in a lot of effort earn two seconds in a time-trial."
Intxausti was originally part of the day's breakaway, holding off Aru's Astana teammate Mikel Landa to win by 20sec, with the Contador group coming in 35sec down.
"I found myself in the right breakaway with some good riders. I felt good all day long," said the stage winner.
"I had the stage win in mind. There were a lot of attacks on the final climb but I waited for the final 4km to go into the red."
It all means that 32-year-old Spaniard Contador will start Sunday's 224km ninth stage -- which has been extended by 9km due to traffic issues -- in the race leader's pink jersey, protecting a 4sec advantage over Aru, with Porte at 22sec.
AFP
