There may still be one stage left but as they are unlikely to win it, Colombia are already judging their overall performance in the Giro d'Italia. Despite missing out on the stage win, the team are pleased with their aggressive showing.

On the attack from day 1 up to the finish: Team Colombia‘s Giro d’Italia had only one leitmotif, spicing things up and hold a spectacular racing conduct. In the 20th stage of the Corsa Rosa, won by Australian Michael Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff) ahead of Italian veteran Franco Pellizotti (Androni-Venezuela), Robinson Chalapud got to the finish in sixth place after a whole day on the attack.

In the fight for the pink jersey, another Colombian, Nairo Quintana (Movistar), defended his 3.07 GC lead on fellow countryman Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), who sits in 2nd place 3.07 down, with Fabio Aru (Astana) in third with a 4.04 gap. Barring unlikely twists of fate, this will be the final podium tomorrow in Trieste.

Right after the stage start, several attacks and counterattacks contributed to shape the day’s 19-man breakaway, including strong men like Pellizotti, Rogers, Monfort (Lotto-Belisol), Cataldo (Team Sky) and Roche (Saxo-Tinkoff). While the escapees managed to gain up to 7 minutes on the chasing peloton, another group moved on the counterattack on the Pura Pass, including Zardini (Bardiani-CSF), Wellens (Lotto-Belisol) and tireless Robinson Chalapud (Team Colombia).

The 30-year-old rider from Ipiales made most of the work to help the chasers bridge back to the race lead on the second climb of the day, Sella Razzo. Quintana’s Movistar team kept controlling the pace in the bunch up to the foot of the Zoncolan, leaving the breakaway the chance to go for the stage win.

Rogers managed to drop all of his fellow escapees on the Zoncolan, taking one of his best career wins in front of a huge number of fans, while Chalapud faced the climb’s steep gradients with a steady pace, reducing the gap to the lead as kilometres went by. Behind them, both Quintana and Uran reclaimed their hold on the Giro top positions, taking some more seconds off rivals Aru, Rolland and Majka.

“I believe we made a very good Giro, from start to finish," General Manager Claudio Corti said. "We fought hard, we made a great show, collecting attention on us and the Giro from all over the World, and obviously achieved some excellent and prestigious results.

"Today’s sixth place by Chalapud adds to our collection, and it was a well deserved one as Chala rode very well today. Even though the stage win we wanted did not come in the end, we are very proud of our guys and their Giro d’Italia.”

Tomorrow, Sunday June 1st, the final 172 km stage awaits the riders from Gemona del Friuli to Trieste.