De Gendt wins stage as Rodriguez retains lead

Belgian Thomas de Gendt put up a superb solo effort to win the fearsome Giro d’Italia 20th stage yesterday, with Joaquim Rodriguez retaining the overall leader’s pink jersey.

Spain’s Rodriguez, riding for the Katusha team, finished fourth and now holds a 31-second advantage over Canada’s Ryder Hesjedal going into today’s 21st and final stage time trial.

Despite almost doubling his advantage Rodriguez will have his work cut out to contain Hesjedal in Milan with the Garmin rider favoured by the 30km race against the clock.

De Gendt’s astonishing display of power on this stamina-sapping 219km alpine ride, culminating in the Category I climb up the Passo Stelvio, which at 2,757m altitude is the highest finish of any of the Tours, also pushed him into podium contention.

The 25-year-old Vacansoleil rider leapt from eighth to fourth in the general standings after crossing the snow-lined finish 55 seconds up on Damiano Cunego.

Mikel Nieve took third at 2min 50sec with Rodriguez in fourth, 3.22 down to lift him one point above Briton Mark Cavendish in the red jersey point standings.

Defending Giro champion Michele Scarponi, fifth yesterday, is placed third in the overall classification, 1min 51sec adrift.

Despite losing time on Rodriguez, Hesjedal did enough in sixth to give him a great chance of creating cycling history today by becoming the Giro’s first ever Canadian champion.