BMC Racing Team's Damiano Caruso – with help from teammate Darwin Atapuma – kept his hold on eighth place overall Saturday on a challenging mountain stage on the penultimate day of the Giro d'Italia.

Caruso finished 11th on the 199-kilometer race that crossed the highest point in this year's race, the gravel climb of the Colle delle Finestre, and finished with an ascent to the ski station at Sestriere. When Caruso lost contact with the leading group, it was Atapuma who helped pace him back.

"It was possible for me to be in the top 10 overall because the team was wonderful every day," Caruso said. "Today, Darwin did a really good job. The other guys were also fantastic during all of the stages. I am happy for me and for the team."

Fabio Aru (Astana Pro Team) soloed to his second straight win and moved to within 2:02 of the overall lead of Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), who is poised to win the Giro d'Italia for the second time. Caruso is 12:17 back while teammates Amaël Moinard is 15th, at 30:23, and Darwin Atapuma is 16th, at 40:26.