Ivan Basso finished far off the mark in the Giro d'Italia mountain time trial but the Italian wasn't riding full gas. As a past winner on the feared mountain, he had an eye on the penultimate stage to the top of Monte Zoncolan.

Drama is something that Grand Tours need. Nail-biting finales are great to watch. Having a 26.8km mountain time trial on the nineteenth stage was designed to provide drama. The route, starting in Bassano del Grappa and climbing to Cima Grappa starts with seven kilometers of flat. Then it takes a turn, and climbs 19.3km at an average grade of 8%. There are flatter sections at the start but pitches up to 14% in sections, and averages 10% for the final three kilometers

Time trials that mix flat terrain and mountain climbs call for difficult component decisions. Start on the setup best for the climbing will be slower on the flat sections. Start on the setup best for flat time trials will be slow on the climb. Mix aero bars with a standard road bike and you’re not quite as fast on the flats nor quite as light on the climbs.

Cannondale Pro Cycling team members all chose to start on their EVO Hi-Mod Team bikes. Michel Koch was one of the early starters, and held the hot seat as temporary race leader for a while. But his time was bested as the later starters came across the line.

Ivan Basso started this time trial on his standard road bike with climbing wheels. He opted not to change bikes as the loss of rhythm that comes with the stopping and starting can make it harder to keep the focus necessary for a top time.

The top two riders started on their time trial rigs and switched to their road bikes after the climb began. Third-placed Pierre Rolland of Europcar started with time trial bars on his road bike. Second-placed Rigoberto Uran switched to a road bike with time trial bars. Movistar’s race leader, Nairo Quintana, went so far as to also switch from his time trial helmet to his road helmet.

At the finish, Basso came in 47th. It neither helped him nor hurt him in the overall standings, remaining in thirteenth overall. Uran dropped to third, Rolland fourth, as Fabio Aru of Astana put in the ride of his life to finish in second place and move up to third overall.

After the finish, Basso was clearly focusing on tomorrow.

“I performed at the best of my condition today. It was a hard route, no time to relax. Of course, I thought also about tomorrow. I have beautiful memories from Zoncolan – it would be an incredible dream to be again the protagonist.”  

In 2010, Basso won solo on the Zoncolan en route to his second Giro victory.

The riders need to rest up tonight. Tomorrow is the last mountain stage of the Giro, and the last chance for the general classification to experience another shake-up. The 167km (103.8mi) ride from Maniago to Monte Zoncolan starts with a gentle profile until the intermediate sprint is reached in Villa Santina, and then the racers tackle the first-category Passo de Pura, the second-category Sella Razzo, and then the first-category Monte Zoncolan. The Zoncolan is a brute. It’s only ten kilometers (6.2mi) long, but it maxes out at 22% grade and has extended sections of 20%. Even the best riders will be clawing their way up. It is Basso’s last opportunity to move up the standings, and he’ll be keen to salvage something at this Giro, so he’ll be in for both the stage win and moving up the standings.