Fabio Aru (Astana) proved that he is the next big Italian climber when he won today's big stage of the Giro d'Italia and moved into fourth on GC. The young Italian had looked around and surprisingly realized that he was the strongest before launching his decisive attack.

16 years ago Marco Pantani laid the foundations for an overall victory in the Giro d'Italia by taking a big win on the Montecamptione climb. If Fabio Aru continues to climb like he did today, we may well be in for a repeat of that performance.

Already yesterday had Aru indicated that he was one of the strongest climbers in the race. Having initially been unable to match the attacks from Domenico Pozzovivo and Nairo Quintana, he gradually clawed his way back and passed the former just before the line.

Today's longer climb suited him much better and while most of the big names seemed to be at their limit and never made the expected attacks, Aru suddenly realized that he was the strongest. He launched a lethal attack and from there he rode solo all the way to the finish.

Despite moving into fourth overall, the young Astana rider keeps his feet on the ground.

“At 3k to go I looked around and saw I was a bit stronger than the others I attacked to see what I could do," he said. “Today I didn’t know how I’d be on the final climb. When I attacked, I didn’t know how much energy I had left.

"I can’t explain how it felt. It felt great to be climbing with riders like Quintana and Urán. When I was alongside them on the climb, my hairs stood on end.

"Then, in the final kilometres, it was incredible. I felt new sensations today, ones which I have never felt before as professional rider.

“I just think of taking it from day to day, not just in the Giro but in the the coming months and years. I try to take one step after another, and to keep on improving. It is fantastic to see a team like Astana, with veterans like Scarponi and Tiralongo, put themselves at my disposal, even if I’m only 23. I can only thank them. The pressure pushes me to achieve every greater things.

“There’s still a hard week of racing ahead of us. The team never leaves my side and they help me get to the climbs.I take everything day by day right now, and we’ll see how it goes."