2015 Giro d'Italia

2015 Giro d'Italia
2015 UCI World Tour, race 15 of 28[1]
Alberto Contador climbing while wearing the pink leader's jersey
Alberto Contador, winner of the 2015 Giro, wearing the pink jersey
Race details
Dates 9 May – 31 May 2015
Stages 21
Distance 3,481.8 km (2,163 mi)
Winning time 88h 22' 25"
Results
Winner  Alberto Contador (ESP) (Tinkoff–Saxo)
Second  Fabio Aru (ITA) (Astana)
Third  Mikel Landa (ESP) (Astana)

Points  Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) (Trek Factory Racing)
Mountains  Giovanni Visconti (ITA) (Movistar Team)
Youth  Fabio Aru (ITA) (Astana)
Team Astana
Team Points Astana

The 2015 Giro d'Italia (English: Tour of Italy) was a three-week Grand Tour cycling stage race that took place in May 2015. It was the 98th running of the Giro d'Italia and took place principally in Italy, although some stages visited France and Switzerland. The 3,481.8-kilometre (2,163.5 mi) race included 21 stages, beginning in San Lorenzo al Mare on 9 May and concluding in Milan on 31 May. It was the fifteenth race of the 2015 UCI World Tour. The Giro was won by Alberto Contador (Tinkoff–Saxo), with Fabio Aru (Astana) second and Aru's teammate Mikel Landa third.

Contador first took the lead after stage 5, the race's first uphill finish. His defence of the maglia rosa (the pink jersey awarded to the winner of the race) was put in doubt when he injured his left shoulder in a crash in the sixth stage. He held his lead through several stages stage but was caught up in another crash in stage 13, which caused him to lose the lead. He took the lead back the following day in the 59.4-kilometre (36.9 mi) Individual time trial, where he gained a lead of several minutes over all his rivals. Despite aggressive riding from Aru and Landa in the final week, Contador was able to defend his lead to the finish of the race. This was his second Giro d'Italia title, after the 2008 race.

As well as finishing second overall, Aru won the white jersey as the best young rider in the week. Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing) won the points competition and Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) won the mountains classification. Astana finished first in both the team ranking by time and the team ranking by points. Contador, Visconti and Nizzolo all won their classifications without winning any stage victories.

Teams

For a more comprehensive list, see List of teams and cyclists in the 2015 Giro d'Italia.

As the Giro d'Italia was a UCI World Tour event, all seventeen UCI WorldTeams were automatically invited and obliged to send a squad.[2] Five UCI Professional Continental teams were given wildcard places in the race by RCS Sport, the race organisers. Four of these were Italian-based teams: Androni Giocattoli–Sidermec, Bardiani–CSF, Nippo–Vini Fantini and Southeast Pro Cycling. Southeast's entry in the race was earned by their victory in the 2014 Coppa Italia, when they competed as Neri Sottoli; they were invited despite three recent doping cases in the team.[2][3] The final wildcard place was awarded to CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice, a Polish-based team.[4] CCC-Sprandi-Polkowice's invitation immediately received attention because the team's roster included two prominent riders who has previously served bans for doping: Stefan Schumacher and Davide Rebellin.[3] The day after the announcement, Cycling Weekly reported that the team might omit the riders from its squad for the race.[5]

Several prominent teams applied for wildcard places but were unsuccessful. These were UnitedHealthcare, Colombia, Wanty–Groupe Gobert and Caja Rural–Seguros RGA.[2]

The team presentation took place in San Remo on the evening before the first stage.[6] As each team sent nine riders to the race, the startlist contained 198 riders.[7] George Bennett (LottoNL–Jumbo) was withdrawn from the startlist on the night before the race, however, as a blood test had revealed low cortisol levels. As his team was part of the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC), he was not allowed to start the Giro.[8] LottoNL–Jumbo therefore began the race with eight riders and there were 197 riders in the peloton at the beginning of the race.[7] This included riders from 36 different countries, with the largest numbers coming from Italy (59), France (15), Belgium (12) and the Netherlands (12). The average age of riders in the Giro was 28.95; they ranged from the 21-year-old Rick Zabel (BMC Racing Team) to the 41-year-old Alessandro Petacchi (Southeast).[9]

UCI WorldTeams

UCI Professional Continental teams

Pre-race favourites

Alberto Contador, wearing a pink skinsuit, riding his time trial bike
Alberto Contador (Tinkoff–Saxo), photographed in the individual time trial during his victory in the 2008 Giro d'Italia, was the principal favourite for victory in 2015.

The winner of the 2014 Giro d'Italia, Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team), chose not to defend his title in order to focus on the Tour de France.[2] The principal favourite for the race was Alberto Contador (Tinkoff–Saxo),[10][11][12][13] especially as Chris Froome (Team Sky) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), two of the most successful active Grand Tour riders, also chose to focus on the Tour and to skip the Giro.[10] Contador, who had won the 2014 Vuelta a España, was attempting to win both the Giro and the Tour in the same season. No rider had achieved this double since Marco Pantani in 1998; Contador described his ambition to do "something that people will remember forever".[14] Contador's last attempt to win both the Giro and the Tour – in the 2011 season – ended in failure. Although he finished first in the Giro, he only managed fifth place in the Tour; both results were subsequently removed because of a ban due to a doping case from 2010.[11]

The rider considered most likely to challenge Contador for the general classification was Richie Porte (Sky). Porte had already achieved nine race victories in 2015, including the overall victories in Paris–Nice, the Volta a Catalunya and the Giro del Trentino. Porte was expected to be particularly strong in the individual time trial, as well as in the mountains. Porte had not shown consistent form in a Grand Tour in recent years, however, and there were doubts about his ability to maintain his form over a three-week race.[11][12][15]

Rigoberto Urán (Etixx–Quick-Step) – who had finished second in 2013 and 2014 – was also among the favourites, with the long individual time trial expected to suit him. Fabio Aru (Astana) – who had finished third in 2014 – was also expected to perform well; VeloNews described him as "perhaps the best pure climber in the race".[16] Other riders expected to challenge for the higher places included Ilnur Zakarin (Team Katusha), who had just won the Tour de Romandie, Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale), Jurgen Van den Broeck (Lotto–Soudal), Damiano Caruso (BMC) and Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale–Garmin), the winner of the 2012 Giro d'Italia.[11][12][13] Four former winners of the Giro started the 2015 edition: Contador, Hesjedal, Ivan Basso (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Damiano Cunego (Nippo–Vini Fantini).[13]

Other prominent riders to start the race included a large number of prominent sprinters, including André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) and Michael Matthews (Orica–GreenEDGE). Greipel was expected to perform well in the few flat stages.[12] Matthews had the ability to win hillier stages; his team's strength in the team time trial was expected to put him into the maglia rosa during the first week; he had also worn the jersey in the first week of the 2014 Giro.[12][13] Tom Boonen (Etixx–Quick-Step), a former world champion, participated in the Giro for the first time in his career.[13]

Route and stages

A photograph of the Dolomite mountains
The Dolomites around Madonna di Campiglio, where stage 15 finished

The first announcement of the route for the 2015 Giro came in July 2014, when RCS Sport announced that it would begin with a team time trial from San Lorenzo al Mare along the coast to San Remo. The route would use the Riviera dei Fiori cycle path and would start at the foot of the Cipressa climb made famous by its inclusion in the Milan–San Remo classic. The route used neither the climb of the Cipressa nor that of the Poggio di San Remo; it kept to the coastline and was entirely flat. The stage would end on the Lungomare Italo Calvino in San Remo. The following two stages were announced at the same time. The second stage – the first mass-start stage of the race – would suit the sprinters, while the third stage would take the riders to La Spezia, where the small climb of the Biassa would come towards the end of the stage.[17] A further route announcement was made in mid-September. Mauro Vegni, the race director, announced that the Giro would return to the climb of the Madonna di Campiglio for the first time since 1999. In the 1999 Giro, Marco Pantani won the stage that finished on the climb and was in the race lead; he tested positive for EPO, however, and was expelled from the race.[18] The full route announcement was made in Milan on 6 October at an event attended by many riders expected to participate in the Giro.[19]

An additional stage in Liguria was included in the route. This was the new third stage, with the stage to La Spezia now stage 4.[20] The additional stage was hilly but had a long flat section towards the finish.[21] The first summit finish of the race came on the second-category climb of the Abetone at the end of stage 5.[22] There was then one flat stage, which was followed by the hilly stage 7, which was the longest stage in any Giro d'Italia since 2000 at 263 kilometres (163 mi).[23][24] These took the riders south along the Tyrrhenian coast and into Campania and then inland towards the southern Apennines.[20] The race then entered the mountains for stages 8 and 9. Stage 8 had a summit finish on the Campitello Matese; stage 9 included mountains and hills throughout.[23] This was followed by the race's first rest day.[20]

A photograph of vineyards with a small town in the background.
The individual time trial took the riders through the vineyards around Valdobbiadene.

The rest day included a transfer to Civitanova Marche on the Adriatic coast. The subsequent stages took the riders along the coast and then into the Dolomites.[20] Immediately after the rest day, there were four relatively flat stages, although two of them included hills towards the end.[23] These were followed by the race's only individual time trial. This was 59.2 kilometres (36.8 mi) in length and was one of the longest time trials in the Giro in recent years.[20] It began with 30 kilometres (19 mi) of flat roads, which were followed by rolling roads towards the finish line in Valdobbiadene.[25] After the time trial came the stage to Madonna di Campiglio, which included several other difficult climbs.[26] This was followed by the second rest day.[20]

The final week of the race began with a stage that crossed the very difficult Passo di Mortirolo on the way to a finish on a third-category climb in Aprica. Cycling Weekly described this as "this year's blockbuster stage".[27] This was followed by one of the flattest stages of the race, which took the Giro out of Italy for the first time in 2015 as it crossed into Switzerland for a finish in Lugano.[28] There were then three consecutive days with high mountains. The eighteenth stage of the race started in Melide, Switzerland in Switzerland and took the riders across the difficult Monte Ologno before a difficult descent to the finish.[29] There were then two consecutive summit finishes on the Cervinia and on Sestriere. The final stage was a largely ceremonial flat stage towards a finish in Milan.[23]

The highest climb of the 2015 Giro – known as the Cima Coppi – was the Colle delle Finestre on the penultimate stage. This was 2,178 metres (7,146 ft) above sea level. In general, the climbs were lower than in previous years, following controversy in the 2014 Giro over the crossing of the Passo dello Stelvio. The race organisers also tried to make the transfers between stages shorter.[20]

List of stages[30][31]
Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner
1 9 May San Lorenzo al Mare to Sanremo 17.6 km (11 mi) Team time trial Orica–GreenEDGE
2 10 May Albenga to Genoa 177 km (110 mi) Flat stage  Elia Viviani (ITA)
3 11 May Rapallo to Sestri Levante 136 km (85 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Michael Matthews (AUS)
4 12 May Chiavari to La Spezia 150 km (93 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Davide Formolo (ITA)
5 13 May La Spezia to Abetone 152 km (94 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Jan Polanc (SLO)
6 14 May Montecatini Terme to Castiglione della Pescaia 183 km (114 mi) Flat stage  André Greipel (GER)
7 15 May Grosseto to Fiuggi 264 km (164 mi) Flat stage  Diego Ulissi (ITA)
8 16 May Fiuggi to Campitello Matese 186 km (116 mi) Mountain stage[32]  Beñat Intxausti (ESP)
9 17 May Benevento to San Giorgio del Sannio 224 km (139 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Paolo Tiralongo (ITA)
18 May Rest day (Civitanova Marche)
10 19 May Civitanova Marche to Forlì 200 km (124 mi) Flat stage  Nicola Boem (ITA)
11 20 May Forlì to Imola (Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari) 153 km (95 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Ilnur Zakarin (RUS)
12 21 May Imola to Vicenza (Monte Berico) 190 km (118 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Philippe Gilbert (BEL)
13 22 May Montecchio Maggiore to Jesolo 147 km (91 mi) Flat stage  Sacha Modolo (ITA)
14 23 May Treviso to Valdobbiadene 59.4 km (37 mi) Individual time trial  Vasil Kiryienka (BLR)
15 24 May Marostica to Madonna di Campiglio 165 km (103 mi) Mountain stage  Mikel Landa (ESP)
25 May Rest day (Madonna di Campiglio)
16 26 May Pinzolo to Aprica 174 km (108 mi) Mountain stage  Mikel Landa (ESP)
17 27 May Tirano to Lugano (Switzerland) 134 km (83 mi) Flat stage  Sacha Modolo (ITA)
18 28 May Melide (Switzerland) to Verbania 170 km (106 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Philippe Gilbert (BEL)
19 29 May Gravellona Toce to Cervinia 236 km (147 mi) Mountain stage  Fabio Aru (ITA)
20 30 May Saint-Vincent to Sestriere 196 km (122 mi) Mountain stage  Fabio Aru (ITA)
21 31 May Turin to Milan 185 km (115 mi) Flat stage  Iljo Keisse (BEL)

Race overview

A photograph of Simon Clarke
Simon Clarke was one of three Australian Orica–GreenEDGE riders to lead the Giro during the first week (photographed during stage 16).

Stage 1, the team time trial, was won by Orica–GreenEDGE. Simon Gerrans was the first rider to cross the line, so he became the first leader of the race. Tinkoff-Saxo were second, seven seconds slower, which made Contador the best-placed rider among the general classification favourites. He gained six seconds on Aru and twenty seconds on Porte.[33] Elia Viviani won the sprint on stage 2; he therefore took the lead in the points classification. Michael Matthews finished seventh on the stage and moved into the maglia rosa.[34] Matthews extended his lead by winning stage 3 in a sprint from a reduced group.[35] There was particular concern during the stage after Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) crashed on a descent; he abandoned the race and was taken to hospital.[36] The fourth stage was won by Davide Formolo (Cannondale–Garmin) from an early breakaway. Astana raced aggressively in the second part of the stage and put significant pressure on the other general classification riders; Rigoberto Urán lost more than 40 seconds, while Tinkoff-Saxo appeared weak in support of Contador. Matthews lost around 20 minutes; Simon Clarke took over the lead of the race. Clarke was the third Australian rider for the Orica–GreenEDGE team to lead the 2015 Giro.[37]

Stage 5, with its summit finish at Abetone, was also won by a rider from a breakaway, this time Jan Polanc (Lampre–Merida), who attacked on the final climb and won by more than a minute. The general classification favourites attacked on the final climb; Contador was the first to attack and was followed by Aru and Porte. They were then joined by Mikel Landa, Aru's teammate, and gained time over all the other riders. Clarke lost over two minutes to Contador, Aru and Porte; he therefore lost the maglia rosa and Contador became the new leader of the race, two seconds ahead of Aru and twenty ahead of Porte.[38] Contador's lead came under threat the following day. The stage was won by Greipel in a sprint finish, but there was a large crash in the final metres. This was caused by a spectator who was leaning over the crash barriers with a camera; Daniele Colli (Nippo–Vini Fantini) collided with him and caused a large number of riders to crash behind him. Contador was among the riders to crash; although he finished the stage on the same time as Greipel, he was treated for a shoulder injury by his team doctor and was unable to put on the leader's jersey on the podium.[39] Despite suffering from the injury, Contador started and finished the following day's stage. This was won in a sprint finish by Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida), while Contador retained the race lead.[40]

Mikel Landa, wearing the blue Astana jersey, riding ahead of Fabio Aru, who is wearing the white jersey of the best young rider
Mikel Landa (left) leading Fabio Aru (both Astana) during stage 16

Contador continued to be troubled by his injury during stage 8, which finished on the climb of the Campitello Matese. The stage was won by Beñat Intxausti (Movistar), who was in the day's early breakaway and attacked on the final climb. Astana again rode hard to put pressure on the other riders; eventually a group formed of Contador, Aru, Porte and Landa. Landa then attacked and finished second on the stage, 15 seconds ahead of the other three riders. He therefore moved up into fifth place overall, while Contador increased his lead over Aru by winning bonus seconds at an intermediate sprint.[41] Stage 9 was also won by a rider from a breakaway: Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) took a solo victory. Aru, Contador, Porte and Landa were again alone in a group towards the end of the stage; although they came to the finish together, Aru took a second out of the others in the sprint. This moved him to three seconds behind Contador. The following day was the first rest day of the race.[42]

After the rest day, stage 10 was once again won by a rider from a breakaway: Nicola Boem (Bardiani–CSF) sprinted to the victory from a small group. A large group – including Contador, Aru and Landa – finished together. Porte, however, suffered a mechanical problem in the final 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) and he was unable to regain contact with the main group, despite assistance from his teammates and from Michael Matthews, Porte's fellow Australian. Porte lost over 40 seconds to the other general classification favourites.[43] After the stage, it was revealed that Porte had been given assistance by another Australian Orica–GreenEDGE rider, Simon Clarke. Clarke had seen Porte waiting for assistance and had given him one of his own wheels. This was illegal under UCI rules that prohibit "non-regulation assistance to a rider from another team"; Porte was therefore given a two-minute time penalty and dropped to twelfth place, over three minutes behind Contador, with Landa moving up to third place.[44]

Stage 11 was won by Ilnur Zakarin, who attacked from an all-day breakaway 23 kilometres (14 mi) from the finish line and rode solo to the finish. The general classification favourites all finished together.[45] Stage 12 finished with a short, steep climb. It was won by Philippe Gilbert (BMC). Contador finished second to win six bonus seconds; his lead was further extended as Aru and Landa both lost several seconds on the climb.[46] Contador lost the lead the following day, however. The stage was won in a bunch sprint by Sacha Modolo (Lampre–Merida); just over 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) before the finish line, however, there was a large crash that delayed a large number of riders. Contador was one of the riders delayed in the crash; he lost 36 seconds to Aru, who therefore took over the race lead. Porte was also caught up in the crash and lost another two minutes.[47]

Stage 14 was the individual time trial, which was won by Vasil Kiryienka (Sky). Contador finished third on the stage, nearly three minutes ahead of Aru. Contador therefore moved back into the race lead. Contador passed Landa on the road, despite starting three minutes after him; Landa lost over four minutes and fell to seventh place overall. Movistar's Andrey Amador moved up into third.[48] Stage 15 was the final stage of the second week and was the climb to Madonna di Campiglio. Landa won the stage after Astana rode hard on the final climb; he finished five seconds ahead of Contador and moved back up to fourth place. Contador finished a second ahead of Aru and extended his lead further due to bonus seconds for his third-place finish.[49] Porte, who had lost over 30 minutes during the weekend following the crash in stage 13, withdrew from the race after the stage.[50]

After the rest day, Landa won a second consecutive stage. Contador had suffered a puncture at the foot of the penultimate climb – the Mortirolo – and at one point was nearly a minute behind Landa and Aru. Contador caught Landa and Aru, however, then attacked them. Although Landa was able to follow Contador's attack, Aru was not. On the final climb to Aprica, Landa attacked and won the stage, 38 seconds ahead of Contador. Aru, meanwhile, lost nearly three minutes to Landa. Landa moved up into second place, although he was still over four minutes behind Contador, with Aru now third.[51] Sacha Modolo won his second stage the following day, in a sprint finish, with Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing) moving into the lead of the points classification.[52] Philippe Gilbert also won a second stage of the 2015 Giro on stage 18, escaping in a breakaway early in the day and attacking 19 kilometres (12 mi) from the finish to take a solo victory. Contador again increased his lead, however: after Aru and Landa were caught behind a crash, Contador ordered his team to attack. Cyclingnews.com suggested this was revenge for Astana's attack on stage 16.[53] Contador. then attacked alone and, after cooperation with Ryder Hesjedal, gained more than a minute on his rivals. Landa was second, over five minutes behind, with Aru a further 50 seconds back.[53]

Alberto Contador riding uphill while wearing the pink jersey
Alberto Contador (Tinkoff–Saxo) wearing the maglia rosa during stage 16

Stage 19 was the first of two consecutive summit finishes. The stage was won by Aru, who attacked early in the final climb. Contador was content to let the other riders dictate the pace in the chasing group, which finished over a minute behind Aru. Landa finished in the same group; Aru therefore moved back ahead of him into second place overall.[54] Aru won again on stage 20, the final difficult stage of the Giro. Contador was isolated from his teammates early in the first of the day's two climbs. The roads towards the top of the climb – the Colle delle Finestre – were gravel. Landa attacked around this point and Contador was unable to follow. With Contador struggling, the other riders in the group attacked. Contador was a minute behind them at the summit, with Landa further ahead.[55] At the foot of the final climb, Landa was ordered by his team to wait for Aru with the hope that, by working together, the two riders could put enough time into Contador to win the Giro.[56] Aru attacked in the final kilometres of the final climb to Sestriere and won the stage. Landa was 24 seconds behind. Despite losing over two minutes, Contador retained his race lead.[55]

The final stage of the Giro was a flat stage ending with several laps of a circuit in Milan. It was not expected to affect the general classification, with a bunch sprint the likely conclusion. There was an attack on the finishing circuit, however, by Iljo Keisse (Etixx–Quick-Step) and Luke Durbridge (Orica–GreenEDGE). Although they never had more than a minute's lead, they were able to stay away from the peloton to the finish. Keisse won the sprint between the pair for the stage victory. Contador finished in the leading group to secure the overall victory, just under two minutes ahead of Aru.[57] Contador thus won the overall 2015 Giro d'Italia without winning any stage victories.[58]

Classification leadership

Beñat Intxausti riding uphill in the blue jersey of the leader of the mountains classification
Beñat Intxausti (Movistar) wearing the blue jersey as leader of the mountains classification during stage 16. The classification was won by his teammate Giovanni Visconti.

In the 2015 Giro d'Italia, four different jerseys were awarded. The first and most important is the general classification, calculated by adding each rider's finishing times on each stage. Riders received time bonuses for finishing in the first three places on each stage (excluding the team time trial and individual time trial). The rider with the lowest cumulative time was awarded the pink jersey (the maglia rosa) and was considered the winner of the Giro d'Italia.[59][60]

Additionally, there was a points classification. Riders won points for finishing in the top 15 on each stage. Flat stages award more points that mountainous stages, meaning that this classification tends to favour sprinters. In addition, points can be won in intermediate sprints. The winner of the points classification won the red jersey.[59][60]

There was also a mountains classification. Points were awarded for reaching the top of a climb towards the front of the race. Each climb will be categorized as either first, second, third, or fourth-category, with more points available for the higher-categorized climbs. The Cima Coppi, the race's highest point of elevation, awards more points than the other first-category climbs. At 2,178 metres (7,146 ft), the Cima Coppi for the 2015 Giro d'Italia was the unpaved Colle delle Finestre.[59][60][61]

The fourth jersey represented the young rider classification. This was decided the same way as the general classification, but only riders born after 1 January 1990 were eligible. The winner of the classification was awarded a white jersey.[59]

There were also two classifications for teams. In the Trofeo Fast Team classification, the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added up; the leading team was the team with the lowest total time. The Trofeo Super Team was a team points classification, with the top 20 placed riders on each stage earning points (20 for first place, 19 for second place and so on, down to a single point for 20th) for their team.[59]

Classification leadership by stage
Stage Winner General classification
A pink jersey
Points classification
A red jersey
Mountains classification
A blue jersey
Young rider classification
A white jersey
Trofeo Fast Team Trofeo Super Team
1 Orica–GreenEDGE Simon Gerrans not awarded not awarded Michael Matthews Orica–GreenEDGE Orica–GreenEDGE
2 Elia Viviani Michael Matthews Elia Viviani Bert-Jan Lindeman
3 Michael Matthews Pavel Kochetkov
4 Davide Formolo Simon Clarke Esteban Chaves Astana
5 Jan Polanc Alberto Contador Jan Polanc Fabio Aru
6 André Greipel André Greipel
7 Diego Ulissi Elia Viviani
8 Beñat Intxausti Beñat Intxausti
9 Paolo Tiralongo Simon Geschke Astana
10 Nicola Boem Nicola Boem
11 Ilnur Zakarin Beñat Intxausti
12 Philippe Gilbert
13 Sacha Modolo Fabio Aru Elia Viviani
14 Vasil Kiryienka Alberto Contador
15 Mikel Landa
16 Steven Kruijswijk
17 Sacha Modolo Giacomo Nizzolo
18 Philippe Gilbert
19 Fabio Aru Giovanni Visconti
20
21 Iljo Keisse
Final Alberto Contador Giacomo Nizzolo Giovanni Visconti Fabio Aru Astana Astana
Notes

Final standings

Legend
  A pink jersey   Denotes the leader of the General classification   A blue jersey   Denotes the leader of the Mountains classification
  A red jersey   Denotes the leader of the Points classification   A white jersey   Denotes the leader of the Young rider classification

General classification

Final general classification (1–10)[62]
Rider Team Time
1  Alberto Contador (ESP) A pink jersey, designating the winner of the general classification Tinkoff–Saxo 88h 22' 25"
2  Fabio Aru (ITA) A white jersey, designating the winner of the young rider classification Astana + 1' 53"
3  Mikel Landa (ESP) Astana + 3' 05"
4  Andrey Amador (CRC) Movistar Team + 8' 10"
5  Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Cannondale–Garmin + 9' 52"
6  Leopold König (CZE) Team Sky + 10' 41"
7  Steven Kruijswijk (NED) LottoNL–Jumbo + 10' 53"
8  Damiano Caruso (ITA) BMC Racing Team + 12' 08"
9  Alexandre Geniez (FRA) FDJ + 15' 51"
10  Yuri Trofimov (RUS) Team Katusha + 16' 14"

Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1–10)[63]
Rider Team Points
1  Giovanni Visconti (ITA) A blue jersey Movistar Team 125
2  Mikel Landa (ESP) Astana 122
3  Steven Kruijswijk (NED) LottoNL–Jumbo 115
4  Beñat Intxausti (ESP) Movistar Team 107
5  Fabio Aru (ITA) A white jersey Astana 80
6  Carlos Betancur (COL) AG2R La Mondiale 75
7  Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Cannondale–Garmin 70
8  Simon Geschke (GER) Team Giant–Alpecin 53
9  Pavel Kochetkov (RUS) Team Katusha 52
10  Alberto Contador (ESP) A pink jersey Tinkoff–Saxo 51

Points classification

Final points classification (1–10)[64]
Rider Team Points
1  Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) A red jersey Trek Factory Racing 181
2  Philippe Gilbert (BEL) BMC Racing Team 148
3  Sacha Modolo (ITA) Lampre–Merida 147
4  Elia Viviani (ITA) Team Sky 144
5  Nicola Boem (ITA) Bardiani–CSF 127
6  Iljo Keisse (BEL) Etixx–Quick-Step 98
7  Alberto Contador (ESP) A pink jersey Tinkoff–Saxo 96
8  Marco Bandiera (ITA) Androni Giocattoli–Sidermec 92
9  Diego Ulissi (ITA) Lampre–Merida 83
10  Luka Mezgec (SLO) Team Giant–Alpecin 78

Young riders classification

Final young rider classification (1–10)[65]
Rider Team Time
1  Fabio Aru (ITA) A white jersey Astana 88h 24' 18"
2  Davide Formolo (ITA) Cannondale–Garmin + 1h 51' 46"
3  Fabio Felline (ITA) Trek Factory Racing + 1h 54' 04"
4  Sebastián Henao (COL) Team Sky + 2h 37' 35"
5  Kenny Elissonde (FRA) FDJ + 2h 45' 04"
6  Silvan Dillier (SUI) BMC Racing Team + 2h 51' 11"
7  Jan Polanc (SVN) Lampre–Merida + 2h 53' 15"
8  Esteban Chaves (COL) Orica–GreenEDGE + 2h 59' 44"
9  Francesco Bongiorno (ITA) Bardiani–CSF + 3h 10' 43"
10  Rubén Fernández (ESP) Movistar Team + 3h 16' 23"

Trofeo Fast Team classification

Final team classification (1–10)[66]
Team Time
1 Astana 264h 42' 31"
2 BMC Racing Team + 43' 16"
3 Team Sky + 1h 13' 51"
4 Movistar Team + 1h 20' 16"
5 Cannondale–Garmin + 2h 26' 57"
6 Lotto–Soudal + 3h 02' 42"
7 Tinkoff–Saxo + 3h 14' 36"
8 Team Katusha + 3h 32' 21"
9 FDJ + 4h 27' 13"
10 Etixx–Quick-Step + 4h 43' 52"

Trofeo Super Team classification

Final team points classification (1–10)[67]
Team Points
1 Astana 640
2 BMC Racing Team 334
3 Lampre–Merida 317
4 Team Sky 284
5 Movistar Team 272
6 Orica–GreenEDGE 251
7 LottoNL–Jumbo 239
8 Bardiani–CSF 238
9 Tinkoff–Saxo 233
10 Team Katusha 233

Minor classifications

Several other minor classifications were awarded. The first of these was the intermediate sprint classification (Italian: Traguardi Volanti). Each road stage had two sprints during the stage. The first five riders across the intermediate sprint line were awarded points; the rider with the most points at the end of the race won the classification.[68] This classification was won by Marco Bandiera (Androni Giocattoli–Sidermec).[69] A similar classification, the Azzuri d'Italia prize, was decided by points awarded to the top three riders on each stage. It was similar to the points classification, but with fewer riders awarded points.[68] The classification was won by Mikel Landa.[70] Another classification – the combativity prize (Italian: Premio Combattivita) – involved points awarded to the first riders at the stage finishes, at intermediate sprints and at the summits of categorised climbs.[68] It was won by Philippe Gilbert.[71]

There was also a breakaway award (Italian: Premio della Fuga). For this, points were awarded to each rider in any breakaway smaller than 10 riders that escaped for at least 5 kilometres (3.1 mi). Each rider was awarded a point for each kilometre that he was away from the peloton. The rider with the most points at the end of the Giro won the award.[68] The classification was also won by Bandiera.[72] The final individual classification was the "energy classification" (Italian: Premio Energy). In each stage, the fastest three riders in the final 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) of the stage were awarded points. The rider with the most points at the end of the Giro won the classification.[68] The award was won by Fabio Aru.[73]

The final classification was a "fair play" ranking for each team. Teams were given penalty points for infringing various rules. These ranged from a half-point penalty for offences that merited a warning from the race officials to a 2000-point penalty for a positive doping test. The team that had the lowest points total at the end of the Giro won the classification.[68] It was won by Nippo–Vini Fantini, who did not receive any penalty points during the Giro.[74]

References

  1. "2015 UCI Calendar". UCI. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Farrand, Stephen (19 January 2015). "2015 Giro d'Italia teams announced". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 10 April 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  3. 1 2 Brown, Gregor (19 January 2015). "Giro announces five wildcard teams; four Italian squads included". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  4. Brown, Gregor (19 January 2015). "Giro d'Italia 2015 wildcards announced: CCC in, Colombia out". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  5. Brown, Gregor (20 January 2015). "Giro d'Italia wildcards CCC Sprandi could leave ex-dopers at home". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  6. "Gallery: Official team presentation for the 2015 Giro d'Italia". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 8 May 2015. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Giro d'Italia 2015 - General Classification". ProCyclingStats. ProCyclingStats BV. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  8. Powlison, Spencer (8 May 2015). "Bennett out of Giro due to low cortisol levels". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  9. "Giro d'Italia 2015 - General Classification". ProCyclingStats. ProCyclingStats BV. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  10. 1 2 Brown, Gregor (7 May 2015). "Race organiser defends Giro d'Italia start-list". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Benson, Daniel (30 April 2015). "2015 Giro d'Italia preview". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Puddicombe, Stephen (6 May 2015). "Giro d'Italia 2015: Who will win?". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Giro d'Italia: iscritti Aru, Contador, Porte, Uran e Van den Broeck". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). RCS Sport. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  14. Hood, Andrew (2 July 2015). "The double: Behind Contador's audacious ambition". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  15. Conde, Mikkel (9 May 2015). "2015 Giro d'Italia preview". Cyclingtips.com.au. Wallace Media Pty Ltd. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  16. Fretz, Caley. "Giro d'Italia 2015 preview". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  17. Farrand, Stephen (29 July 2015). "2015 Giro d'Italia to start with a team time trial in Sanremo". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  18. Brown, Gregor (15 September 2015). "Giro d'Italia to climb Madonna di Campiglio in 2015". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  19. Wynn, Nigel (6 October 2014). "Giro d'Italia 2015 route presentation gallery". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Farrand, Stephen (6 October 2015). "Giro d'Italia 2015 route unveiled". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  21. "Giro d'Italia 2015 stage 3 preview". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  22. "Giro d'Italia 2015 stage 5 preview". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  23. 1 2 3 4 Brown, Gregor (6 October 2014). "Giro d'Italia 2015 route features six high mountain finishes". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  24. "Giro d'Italia 2015 stage 7 preview". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. 14 May 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  25. "Giro d'Italia 2015: Stage 14 preview". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 6 May 2015. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  26. "Giro d'Italia 2015 stage 15 preview". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  27. "Giro d'Italia 2015 stage 16 preview". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  28. "Giro d'Italia 2015 stage 17 preview". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  29. "Giro d'Italia 2015 stage 18 preview". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  30. "Route: Giro d'Italia 2015 – Gazzetta dello Sport". Route: Giro d'Italia 2015 – Gazzetta dello Sport.
  31. "Giro d'Italia 2015". Cyclingnews.com.
  32. "Stage 08° - Giro d'Italia 2015 – Gazzetta dello Sport". Stage 08° - Giro d'Italia 2015 – Gazzetta dello Sport.
  33. Benson, Daniel (11 May 2015). "Giro d'Italia: Orica-GreenEdge win team time trial". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  34. Cossins, Peter (11 May 2015). "Giro d'Italia: Viviani wins sprint in Genoa". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  35. Windsor, Richard (11 May 2015). "Michael Matthews wins Giro d'Italia stage three". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  36. Clarke, Stuart (11 May 2015). "Domenico Pozzovivo out of Giro d'Italia after nasty crash". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  37. Benson, Daniel (13 May 2015). "Giro d'Italia: Formolo takes solo win on stage 4 in La Spezia". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  38. Farrand, Stephen (13 May 2015). "Giro d'Italia: Contador climbs into maglia rosa on summit finish to Abetone". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  39. Farrand, Stephen (14 May 2015). "Giro d'Italia: Greipel wins on stage 6". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  40. Farrand, Stephen (16 May 2015). "Giro d'Italia: Ulissi wins in Fiuggi". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  41. Cossins, Peter (15 May 2015). "Giro d'Italia: Intxausti wins stage 8 summit finish at Campitello Matese". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  42. Elton-Waters, Jack (17 May 2015). "Paolo Tiralongo wins stage nine of the Giro d'Italia, as Contador stays in pink". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  43. Benson, Daniel (20 May 2015). "Giro d'Italia: Boem takes breakaway sprint to win in Forlì". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  44. Ryan, Barry (21 May 2015). "Giro d'Italia: Richie Porte docked two minutes". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 26 July 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  45. "Zakarin solos to victory in Giro stage 11". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  46. Cossins, Peter (21 May 2015). "Giro d'Italia: Gilbert wins stage 12 in Vicenza". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  47. "Giro d'Italia: Modolo wins bunch sprint in Jesolo". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 23 May 2015. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  48. Cossins, Peter (24 May 2015). "Giro d'Italia stage 14: Alberto Contador storms back into race lead". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  49. Stokes, Shane (25 May 2015). "Giro d'Italia: Landa wins at Madonna di Campiglio, Contador gains seconds on Aru". Cyclingtips.com.au. Wallace Media Pty Ltd. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  50. Brown, Gregor (25 May 2015). "Injured Richie Porte withdraws from Giro". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  51. Windsor, Richard (26 May 2015). "Mikel Landa takes second stage victory on gruelling day at Giro d'Italia". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  52. "Giro d'Italia: Modolo wins stage 17 in Lugano". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 28 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  53. 1 2 "Giro d'Italia: Gilbert wins stage 18 in Verbania". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 28 May 2015. Archived from the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  54. Stokes, Shane (30 May 2015). "Aru fights back to nab stage 19 of Giro d'Italia, Contador keeps powder dry for final mountain stage". Cyclingtips.com.au. Wallace Media Pty Ltd. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  55. 1 2 Wynn, Nigel (30 May 2015). "Alberto Contador under pressure in Giro d'Italia's penultimate stage as Aru wins again". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  56. Ryan, Barry (30 May 2015). "Team orders temper Landa's aggression on the road to Sestriere". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  57. O'Shea, Sadhbh (1 June 2015). "Alberto Contador wins Giro d'Italia overall". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 13 March 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  58. "Alberto Contador wins 2015 Giro d'Italia, Iljo Keisse takes final stage". Eurosport. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  59. 1 2 3 4 5 Laura, Weislo (13 May 2008). "Giro d'Italia classifications demystified". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  60. 1 2 3 "Giro revamps time bonus and points systems for 2014 edition". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  61. "Giro 2015: Ritorna il Mortirolo, sarà decisivo il Colle delle Finestre" [Giro 2015: The Mortirolo returns; the Colle delle Finestre will be decisive]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). RCS Sport. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  62. 1 2 "Giro d'Italia 2015 - General Classification". ProCyclingStats. ProCyclingStats BV. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  63. "Giro d'Italia 2015 - Mountains classification". ProCyclingStats. ProCyclingStats BV. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  64. "Giro d'Italia 2015 - Points classification". ProCyclingStats. ProCyclingStats BV. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  65. "Giro d'Italia 2015 - Youth Classification". ProCyclingStats. ProCyclingStats BV. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  66. "Giro d'Italia 2015 - Teams Classification". ProCyclingStats. ProCyclingStats BV. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  67. "Percorso tappa 21 - Giro d'Italia 2015". La Gazzetta dello Sport. RCS Sport. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  68. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The regulations for the 2015 Giro have not been published. See:
  69. "Percoso tappa 21°". Giro d'Italia. RCS Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  70. "Percoso tappa 21°". Giro d'Italia. RCS Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  71. "Percoso tappa 21°". Giro d'Italia. RCS Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  72. "Percoso tappa 21°". Giro d'Italia. RCS Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  73. "Percoso tappa 21°". Giro d'Italia. RCS Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  74. "Percoso tappa 21°". Giro d'Italia. RCS Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2015.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Giro d'Italia 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/15/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.