Quintana Set for Giro d'Italia Title

Movistar rider Nairo Quintana is on the brink of Giro d'Italia victory after maintaining his lead over Rigoberto Uran on the penultimate stage.

The 24-year-old leads fellow Colombian Uran by three minutes seven seconds ahead of Sunday's race into Trieste.

Australia's Michael Rogers won stage 20, from Maniago to Monte Zoncolan, ahead of Italy's Franco Pellizotti.

Another Italian, Francesco Bongiorno, was challenging Rogers for victory until he was pushed by a spectator.

The Bardiani Valvole rider was on Rogers's wheel with three kilometres to go when a fan pushed him on the back, forcing him to take his left foot off the pedal.

Bongiorno recovered to finished the stage third, ahead of Ireland's Nicolas Roche.

He said: "I'm very bitter. On a climb like that, when you lose your balance, it's impossible."

Race leader Quintana kept close to Uran on the final ascent of Monte Zoncolan, a gruelling climb of more than 10.1km.

With the final stage relatively flat, he is all but guaranteed overall victory ahead of his compatriot, with Italian Fabio Aru set to finish third.

"It's 99% done," said Quintana. "I've achieved one of the big goals in my life."

Tinkoff-Saxo rider Rogers, meanwhile, said he was "proud" to win a second stage in this year's Giro.

The 34-year-old, cleared of a drug violation in April after eating contaminated meat, added: "It's been a dream of mine to win a mountain-top finish like that."

The Giro ends with a 172km flat route from Gemona del Friuli to Trieste.

Stage 20 result:

1. Michael Rogers (Aus/Tinkoff - Saxo) 4:41:55"

2. Franco Pellizotti (Ita/Androni Giocattoli) +37"

3. Francesco Bongiorno (Ita/Bardiani Valvole) +48"

4. Nicolas Roche (Ire/Tinkoff - Saxo) +1:34"

5. Brent Bookwalter (USA/BMC Racing) +1:36"

6. Robinson Chalapud (Col/Colombia) +1:46"

7. Georg Preidler (Aus/Giant) +1:54"

8. Maxime Monfort (Bel/Lotto) +2:13"

9. Dario Cataldo (Ita/Team Sky) +2:23"

10. Simon Geschke (Ger/Giant) +2:38"

General classification:

1. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) 83:50:25"

2. Rigoberto Uran (Col/Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +3:07"

3. Fabio Aru (Ita/Astana) +4:04"

4. Pierre Rolland (Fra/Europcar) +5:46"

5. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita/AG2R) +6:41"

6. Rafal Majka (Pol/Tinkoff - Saxo) +7:13"

7. Wilco Kelderman (Ned/Belkin) +11:09"

8. Cadel Evans (Aus/BMC Racing) +12:00"

9. Ryder Hesjedal (Can/Garmin) +13:35"

10. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro/Trek) +15:49

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Nibali Vuelta Lead Cut

La Vuelta

Frenchman Warren Barguil won a second Vuelta a Espana stage in four days as race leader Vincenzo Nibali's advantage was cut to 28 seconds.

Argos-Shimano's Barguil, 21, held on to take the 146.8km stage in a photo finish from Sky's Rigoberto Uran.

Nibali, 28, struggled on the climb to the finish and his lead was reduced by 22 seconds with five stages left.

The Italian Astana rider's closest rival, American Chris Horner, broke away from him with about 3km remaining.

Spaniard Alejandro Valverde remains in third place overall but he also gained time on Nibali and is now just one minute 14 seconds behind the Giro d'Italia winner.

Result of Stage 16:

1. Warren Barguil (France/Argos) 3:43:31"

2. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia/Team Sky) same time

3. Bartosz Huzarski (Poland/NetApp) +3"

4. Dominik Nerz (Germany/BMC Racing) +8"

5. Jose Herrada (Spain/Movistar) +20"

6. Mickael Cherel (France/AG2R) +37"

7. Maciej Paterski (Poland/Cannondale)

8. Andre Cardoso (Portugal/Caja Rural) +40"

9. Amets Txurruka (Spain/Caja Rural) +42"

10. Chris Sorensen (Denmark/Saxo - Tinkoff) +45"

Overall standings after Stage 16:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) 64:06:01"

2. Chris Horner (US/RadioShack) +28"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +1:14"

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha) +2:29"

5. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy/AG2R) +3:38"

6. Nicolas Roche (Ireland/Saxo-Tinkoff) +3:43"

7. Thibaut Pinot (France/FDJ.fr) +4:37"

8. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic/NetApp) +6:17"

9. Samuel Sanchez (Spain/Euskaltel) +7:33"

10. Tanel Kangert (Estonia/Astana) +9:21"

Related articles

• Vuelta a España: Warren Barguil takes stage 15 by inches over Rigoberto Urán
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• Nibali's lead cut in Tour of Spain cycling
• Vuelta stage 16: Barguil doubles up, Nibali doubled up
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Nibali Retains Vuelta lead

Getty Images

Vincenzo Nibali maintained his 50-second lead in the Vuelta a España after Frenchman Alexandre Geniez took a solo victory on stage 15.

The Italian finished alongside his four closest rivals in the overall standings after the second Pyrenean stage.

Geniez, part of a 28-man breakaway, took off 20km from the finish to surge away and finish three minutes clear.

Italian Michele Scarponi was second while Ireland's Nicholas Roche gained 13 seconds on Nibali to finish third.

Roche remains sixth overall, 3:49" behind Nibali after the 224.9 km stage from Andorra la Vella to Peyragudes in France, the most mountainous of the entire race.

Geniez took his maiden Grand Tour win after more than 5,000m of climbing and six hours of riding.

Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez, fourth overall, made several attacks on the final ascent but was unable to shake off Nibali, who finished fourth on the stage.

"It was a very tough day, and Rodriguez pushed as hard as he could on that last climb," said Nibali. "I and my team had to work hard to keep everything under control."

Philippe Gilbert, the world road-race champion, and world time trial champion Tony Martin both pulled out during the stage.

The Road World Championships take place in Florence, Italy from 23-29 September.

Monday's final Pyrenean stage concludes with a summit finish at Sallent de Gallego. The Vuelta finishes next Sunday, 15 September, in Madrid.

Result of stage 15:

1. Alexandre Geniez (France / FDJ.fr) 6:20:12"

2. Michele Scarponi (Italy / Lampre) +3:02"

3. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +3:07"

4. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +3:20"

5. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar)

6. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack)

7. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha)

8. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R)

9. Jose Herrada (Spain / Movistar) +3:23"

10. David Arroyo (Spain / Caja Rural)

Overall standing after 15 stages:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) 60:20:21"

2. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack) +50"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +1:42"

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +2:57"

5. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R) +3:43"

6. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +3:49"

7. Thibaut Pinot (France / FDJ.fr) +4:59"

8. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic / NetApp) +6:18"

9. Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel) +7:46"

10. Tanel Kangert (Estonia / Astana) +9:11"

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Cancellara Wins Vuelta Time Trial

Getty Images

Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara won the 11th stage of the Vuelta a Espana as Italian Vincenzo Nibali overcame a wasp sting to lead the overall race.

RadioShack Leopard's Cancellara held off German Tony Martin to win the 38.8km time trial by 37 seconds.

Astana's Nibali, stung in training on Tuesday, finished fourth to secure a 33-second lead over Nicolas Roche.

"I felt terrible when I woke up this morning and little by little it's getting better," Nibali, 28, said.

"I'm just going to defend the lead day by day, not thinking too far ahead. There's still five really big mountain stages to come."

Ireland's Roche, riding for Saxo-Tinkoff, finished sixth to move up to second in the general classification with Spaniard Alejandro Valverde of Movistar completing the top three.

RadioShack's American rider Chris Horner, who led after winning the 10th stage, dropped to fourth in the race for the red jersey after finishing 20th in the time trial.

The 41-year-old was hampered by a bee flying into his mouth at the start of the stage.

"It was disturbing and scary. I couldn't get it out. I also tried to swallow it. Eventually, I coughed it up," Horner said.

"I figured if I lost around a minute on Nibali, it'd be OK."

Thursday's 12th stage is a 164.2km ride from Maella to Tarragona, which is expected to favour the sprinters.

Result of stage 11

1. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland / RadioShack) 51:00

2. Tony Martin (Germany / Omega Pharma-Quick Step) +37"

3. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R La Mondiale) +1:24"

4. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +1:25"

5. Dario Cataldo (Italy / Sky Procycling) +1:41"

6. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo-Tinkoff) +1:48"

7. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +1:52"

Overall standings after 11 stages

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) 41:22:22"

2. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo-Tinkoff) +33"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +46"

4. Chris Horner (US / RadioShack) +46"

5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +2:33"

6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R La Mondiale) +2:44"

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Roche Leads as Cousin Leaves Vuelta

La Vuelta

Nicholas Roche has taken the overall lead in the Vuelta España after finishing third in the eighth stage.

The Irishman, riding for Saxo-Tinkoff, started eight seconds behind Vincenzo Nibali but rode away from the Italian, who is now fourth, on the final climb.

Czech Leopold Konig held off a late surge from Spaniard Daniel Moreno to win the race to Estepona in Andalucia.

Birmingham-born Irishman Dan Martin withdrew from the Vuelta on Saturday morning after crashing on stage seven.

Martin, the Garmin-Sharp team leader, was suffering from concussion after suffering a blow to the head on Friday and tweeted: "I hit a hole or rock in the road. Down I went.

"Nothing broken, but the most painful crash [I've] ever had. Sad to leave the Vuelta but can't race with these birds flying round my head."

Konig, who rides for the fledgling NetApp Endura team, sped away from the race favourites in the final 5km of the 14.5km-long category one climb to the finish.

Katusha's Moreno led the chase and almost paced his ascent to perfection but finished one second back to move up to third overall.

Roche, the son of 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen, led a group of four riders over the line, five seconds after Konig and with the assistance of a time bonus for finishing third, took the race lead by 17 seconds.

American Chris Horner finished 23 seconds behind Konig, and alongside Team Sky's Rigoberto Uran, but retained second place as he was four seconds clear of Nibali, who had led by three seconds overnight.

Spanish contenders Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez finished together, 19 seconds behind the stage winner, but they were eight seconds ahead of Nibali, to reduce their deficit to the Italian to 13 seconds.

Sunday's ninth stage is a 163.7km race from Antequera to Valdepenas de Jaen.

Result of stage eight

1. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic / NetApp) 4:09:46"

2. Daniel Moreno (Spain / Katusha) +1"

3. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +5"

4. Thibaut Pinot (France / FDJ.fr)

5. Ivan Basso (Italy / Cannondale)

6. Bart De Clercq (Belgium / Lotto)

7. Igor Anton (Spain / Euskaltel) +13"

8. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +19"

9. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha)

10. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Team Sky) +23"

11. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack)

12. Rafal Majka (Poland / Saxo - Tinkoff)

13. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R)

14. Haimar Zubeldia (Spain / RadioShack)

15. Sergio Henao (Colombia / Team Sky) +27"

16. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana)

Overall standings after eight stages

1. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) 31:39:30"

2. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack) +17"

3. Daniel Moreno (Spain / Katusha)

4. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +18"

5. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic / NetApp) +29"

6. Haimar Zubeldia (Spain / RadioShack) +30"

7. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +31"

8. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Team Sky) +42"

9. Rafal Majka (Poland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +52"

10. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +1:03"

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