Andrey Amador and the Movistar Team showed again that the only limit is one's dreams by defending bravely what they had achieved in the 2015 Giro d'Italia TT during the first day of really big mountains in the parcours.

The 165km stage fifteen from Marostica to the Cat-1 climb of Madonna di Campiglio - with La Fricca (Cat-2) and the Passo Daone (Cat-1) as serious difficulties prior to the final ascent - witnessed another hectic day, with more than fifty kilometers before the day's early break was established. Many of the Blues fought to make the moves, which ultimately two of them succeeded in being part of.

After initial insistence from Rubén Fernández - many laudable efforts have been seen from the Spaniard in this year's 'Corsa Rosa' - it was Giovanni Visconti and Beñat Intxausti who got into an 11-man escape. The group launched the Basque into a secure lead in the KOM standings - now 31 points ahead of Mikel Landa (AST), winner of Sunday's stage - while the Italian dug deep to get back to a GC top-ten place he had lost after the TT. It was yet regained when he broke the escape into two and crested the Daone climb in front of Dupont (ALM) and Siutsou (SKY), 1'30" ahead of a favourites' group featuring Amador, Ion Izagirre, Antón and Intxausti.

A crash by Igor Antón with some bruises on his left knee as only consequence split the bunch and left only 11 riders ahead, Amador included. The Costa Rican rider, supported by Fernández and his other team-mates in the beginning, was protected by Visconti after the Italian got caught.

The final attacks tore the race apart with 3km to go, Amador intelligent enough to stay on his own pace to reach the finish in 6th place. He remains in 3rd overall (27" ahead of Landa, fourth) as Visconti jumps back into 9th, 9'53" behind Contador (TCS). The Giro convoy will enjoy a well-deserved, second rest day on Monday.

"The truth is that it was a very hard day," said the Costa Rican on his website. "Since the time trial, this position has made me nervous, but I coukd still ride strongly. I had a little more apprehension for the penultimate climb that was at high altitude, but I managed to pass it with the best. The goal is to do the maximum. I think for now, there are four riders who are a little better. The team performed very well today. I have to take this Giro day after day."