Fabio Aru, Mikel Landa and the Astana team were forced to accept losing further time to Alberto Contador after stage 18 to Verbania at the Giro d'Italia.
On Tuesday, the Astana riders went on the attack before the Mortirolo climb when Contador stopped for an apparent wheel change. When Landa was caught up in a crash on the early slopes of Monte Ologno today, the Tinkoff-Saxo took his revenge.
They upped the speed at the front of the peloton and then Contador danced away. He was later joined by Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale-Garmin), who was looking to break into the top 10 overall, and they worked together and finished 1:13 ahead of the group of chasers that included Aru and Landa.
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"I think he (Contador) saw the opportunity to make me suffer and he took it, and I've lost a minute and a half," Landa admitted.
"He took advantage the same way that I did on the Mortirolo. Certainly they were angry about what had happened the other day and they took advantage of the situation. Things like that happen. The race is the race, and he took his opportunity. Our objective is the keep these two positions on the podium and try to win another stage."
Aru again struggled on the climb of Monte Ologno and is now in a fight to defend his third place overall and spot on the final podium in Milan from Andrey Amador (Movistar). The Costa Rica rider is only 56 seconds behind in the overall classification with the mountain stages to Cervinia and Sestriere still to come.
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