Sky's two Colombians have taken a firm grip on the white jersey of best young rider. Yesterday, high above Lake Como at the small Pian dei Resinelli ski resort, Sergio Henao climbed into the lead. Team-mate Rigoberto Uran sits just over a minute behind in second place.
"The whole team's working well together, the Colombians helped out Mark [Cavendish] on the sprint days and Mark helped them out where he could," Sky sport director, Steven de Jongh told Cycling Weekly. "It's a good combination."
The road to Pian dei Resinelli climbs 7.75 kilometres and switches back 15 times. Years ago, including 1962 when Spain's Angelino Soler won, locals had to pay to use the road. Yesterday, several of Sky's rivals suffered the costs of a draining day over the Valcava and Culmine di San Pietro climbs.
American Peter Stetina (Garmin-Barracuda) sat only 1-47 minutes back in the classification at the start of the day, but lost ground early on. He paid for the previous day, when he helped team-mate Ryder Hesjedal into the leader's pink jersey.
Damiano Caruso (Liquigas-Cannondale) dropped back around Bellabio and the start of Pian dei Resinelli. He worked for Ivan Basso, riding pace at the front before Sylvester Szmyd took over.
Sky's Colombians were free to ride their own race after helping Cavendish in the sprints,
"Caruso is the main contender, but he has to work a lot for Basso. Stetina had to work a lot for Hesjedal, too," added De Jongh. "We don't have this problem in our team."
"My priority is to Ivan," Caruso told Cycling Weekly. "I'll try for the white jersey, but I have to think of him first."
Stetina's situation is the same, underlined by a 17-minute time loss yesterday.
"To make a good placing in the white jersey class would be a big deal for Peter. But it's clear, when you have a rider going for the overall, like Ryder, that takes precedence," Garmin sports director Charly Wegelius told Cycling Weekly.
"He's doing a great job, learning about the work from Christian [Vande Velde], who's full of experience. If Pete is going to become a leader in the future, he needs to know what it is like to have someone working for him. It helps you understand what you are asking guys to do, what you can and can't ask them to do. It's already great thing for him and he's going to grow a lot from it."
Stetina and Caruso have a lot of work ahead of them, both of their leaders will fight for the overall lead in the coming week through the Alpine Mountains. Sky's Colombians have their own objectives, a high GC and the white jersey.
Best young rider classification after stage 15
1. Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky 65:13.02hrs
2. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Team Sky at 1-01min
3. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Colnag-CSF Inox at 2-50min
4. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 8-14min
5. Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Rabobank at 8-53min
Giro d'Italia 2012: Latest news
Cavendish's Sky lead-out still on learning curve
Orica-GreenEdge to strengthen sprint train in Tour de France
Schleck struggles on with dislocated shoulder
Rodriguez up against more experienced rivals in Giro
Bak from worker to winner at the Giro
Cavendish disappointed to lose Giro stage in Montecatini Terme
Goss shaping up as Orica-GreenEdge leader
Hesjedal happy with Giro performance despite losing lead
Pinotti alters Giro plans after losing time in mountains
Pozzato apologises for role in causing crash
Hesjedal has tough day as Giro leader
Schleck building form in Giro for final week in Alps
English speakers on top
Giro favourites to make move in first mountain finish
Malori will relish time in Giro lead
Giro d'Italia 2012: Live coverage
Giro d'Italia 2012 live text coverage schedule
Giro d'Italia 2012: Stage reports
Stage 15: Rabottini takes tough win in Giro
Stage 14: Amador wins Giro's first high mountain stage as Hesjedal reclaims lead
Stage 13: Cavendish makes it three
Stage 12: Bak attacks to win
Stage 11: Ferrari wins Giro stage on ride to redemption
Stage 10: Rodriguez wins thrilling finale to take leadStage nine: Ventoso wins in Frosinone as Goss and Cavendish fall
Stage eight: Pozzovivo takes another Giro win
Stage seven: Hesjedal moves into Giro lead
Stage six: Rubiano solos to epic Giro stage win
Stage five: Cavendish bounces back for another stage win
Stage four: Garmin-Barracuda win TTT to take lead
Stage three: Goss wins in Horsens as Cavendish and Phinney crash
Stage two: Cavendish wins in Herning
Stage one: Phinney wins time trial
Giro d'Italia 2012: Photo galleries
Stage 15 photo gallery
Stage 14 photo gallery
Stage 13 photo gallery
Stage 12 photo gallery
Stage 11 photo gallery
Stage 10 photo gallery
Stage nine photo gallery
Stage eight photo gallery
Stage seven photo gallery
Stage six photo gallery
Stage five photo gallery
Stage four photo gallery
Stage three photo gallery
Stage two photo gallery
Stage one photo gallery
Giro d'Italia 2012: Teams and riders
Giro d'Italia 2012 start list
Giro d'Italia 2012: TV guide
Giro d'Italia 2012: British Eurosport TV schedule
Related links
Giro d'Italia 2012: The Big Preview
Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia section
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