Sacha Modolo sprints to win as Contador relaxes

Sacha Modolo celebrates as he crosses the line to win the 17th stage of the Giro. Picture: Luk Benies/AFP/Getty

A superb leadout from  Modolo’s Lampre-Merida team saw the Italian beat compatriot Giacomo Nizzolo by a bike length to win the 134-kilometre (83-mile) stage from Tirano to Lugano in Switzerland, which featured just one Category 3 climb.

Modolo said: “I looked around on the hill about 4K from the finish and I saw that my rivals were maybe more tired than me.

“Yesterday was very difficult but I had good legs, today was nice and warm – my ideal day.

“Max Richeze and Roberto Ferrari have shown they are one of the best leadout trains around. I don’t fear anyone.”

The stage saw Marco Bandiera, Iljo Keisse and Giacomo Berlato break away very early on and stay out in front – albeit not by much – for most of the day. There were late attacks from Adam Hansen and Luca Paolini but both were unsuccessful.

There was no change at the top of the overall standings, where Contador leads Mikel Landa by 4:02, with Fabio Aru third, 4:52 behind.

“In theory it was a transition stage but it was more difficult than we thought,” Contador said. “The road was always going up and down and we had the wind against us for most of the day. The group went fast to follow the three-man break.

“But, up until today, something different had happened almost every day – a crash, a puncture, a mechanical problem. I am very happy because I got through the stage safely and arrived at Lugano, where I live.”

The Spaniard is trying to become the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Giro and Tour de France in the same year. A two-times Tour champion, Contador won the Giro in 2008 and was also triumphant in Milan in 2011 but was stripped of that title for testing positive in the 2010 Tour.

Today’s stage is 170 kilometres from Melide, Switzerland, to Verbania, with a top category climb shortly before the finish.