Anton conquers Zoncolan in shortened Giro stage

Spaniard Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi) was the big winner on Mont Zoncolan on Saturday, taking the victory and moving up into third place overall in the Giro d'Italia at the end of a shortened high mountains stage.

Behind him, Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) put in another strong climbing performance to place second and stave off a grimly-determined ride from Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) on the upper slopes of the crowd-packed Zoncolan.

Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) suffered from an unfortunately-timed chain slip after being dropped by Contador and Nibali. He came home in fourth, 31 seconds behind Nibali and 1-11 behind stage winner Anton.

Contador still safely leads the race with a sizeable three minute and 20 second advantage over Nibali, with third-placed Anton now just one second behind Nibali.

Although it did little to take the sting out of Zoncolan, the stage routing was changed literally at the last minute by race organisers. On Friday night, the decision was made to exclude the controversial Crostis climb from stage 14 and replace it with the Tualis climb. But during the racing, this replacement climb itself was removed in response to threats of protest by fans disgruntled that the Crostis had been originally excluded.

On the Zoncolan, the vociferous crowd could be heard booing Contador as he dropped home favourite Nibali in the final kilometre.

On Sunday the riders face another tough stage in the mountains, a 229km trip from Conegliano to Gardeccia Val di Fassa again featuring a mountain-top finish.

Results

Giro d'Italia 2011, stage 14: Lienz to Monte Zoncolan

1. Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi in 5-04-26

2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-Sungard at 33 secs

3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 40 secs

4. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 1-11

5. Denis Menchov (Rus) Geox-TMC at 1-21

Overall classification after stage 14

1. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-Sungard

2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 3-20

3. Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 3-21

4. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 4-06

5. John Gadret (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale at 5-23

6. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) HTC-Highroad at 5-37

Russell Downing

Race leader Alberto Contador

Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali climb Zoncolan

Igor Anton takes the stage win

Giro d'Italia 2011: Latest news

Controversial Crostis climb removed from Giro route

Sky leader Lofkvist loses more time at the Giro

Giro contenders struggle with Contador's dominance

Contador widens Giro advantage but Tour doping case waits

Porte reflects, one year after Giro success

Le Mevel goes on attack for Giro's pink jersey

Giro fines Contador for missing press conference

Cavendish responds to 'team car' accusations at Giro

Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 15)

Giro's Sicilian cyclists proud to face Mount Etna

Contador surprises at Giro with attack ahead of mountains

Contador minds food at Giro as CAS decision nears

Weening supported by Rabobank and model Kroes

Local lad Appollonio bears fruit in Fiuggi

Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 12 edition)

Blythe finding way in second Grand Tour

Leopard-Trek withdraws from Giro d'Italia

Leopard-Trek uncertain to continue in Giro

Tuesday's Giro stage in memory of Weylandt

Giro doctor describes actions to save Weylandt

Wouter Weylandt killed in Giro crash

Giro news shorts (May 8)

Cavendish likely to take Giro lead tomorrow

Giro 2011: Who will win?

Giro d'Italia 2011: Stage reports

Stage 13: Contador consolidates Giro overall as Rujano takes stage

Stage 12: Cavendish holds off Appollonio to take second victory

Stage 11: Gadret grabs dramatic stage win

Stage 10: Cavendish opens his Giro account

Stage nine: Contador storms Etna to take Giro lead

Stage eight: Gatto springs late attack to take win

Stage seven: Neo-pro De Clercq wins by a whisker

Stage six: Ventoso steals Giro stage six win

Stage five: Weening holds on to take stage and maglia rosa

Stage four: Tearful Farrar and Leopard-Trek lead riders across stage four finish line

Stage three: Vicioso victory overshadowed by Weylandt crash

Stage two: Petacchi wins as Cavendish takes lead

Stage one: HTC-Highroad wins Giro's opening team time trial

Giro d'Italia 2011: Photo galleries

Stage 13 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage four photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Giro d'Italia 2011: Live text coverage

Giro d'Italia stage 11 live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage seven live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage five live text updates

Follow the 2011 Giro d'Italia live with Cycling Weekly

Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list

Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list

Giro d'Italia 2011: TV schedule

Giro d'Italia 2011: British Eurosport TV schedule

Related links

Giro d'Italia 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index