Sestriere, Italy - Alberto Contador was virtually assured of winning the Giro d'Italia after surviving attacks on Saturday's summit finish that left him with an unassailable lead on his nearest rival Fabio Aru who won the stage.
It was a second straight stage win for 24-year-old Italian Aru, who launched a desperate bid to dislodge Contador on the penultimate dirt-road climb.
But now Sunday's flat 185km ride into Milan means that barring catastrophe Spaniard Contador will roll over the finish line over two minutes ahead of Aru, adding to a first title he won there in 2008.
This 199km slog from Saint Vincent to Sestriere, featured an 8km brutal climb up the dirt roads of the Colle delle Finestre, where Astana pair Mikel Landa and Aru launched their thrilling attacks.
But Contador kept his cool to allow the pair and others to climb away from him, eventually levelling out on the final 10km climb to Sestrieres, a sixth summit finish of this Giro, where he punched the air in victory on crossing the line.
AFP
