Time trials have always been Robert Kiserlovski's weakness and today he again lost plenty of time in a race against the clock when he finished 21st in the Monte Grappa stage of the Giro d'Italia. The result didn't surprise the Croatian whose diesel engine works better on long, hard stages with many mountains.

The race of truth was all up: A 26.8-kilometer ascent with a maximum pitch of 14% and a nasty 9% average gradient for the final six kilometers. It was the first test of the overall classification where tactics, drafting and weather did not affect the outcome.  For stage 19 it was simply the strongest legs; in the end Nairo Quintana proved the maglia rosa is, without question, on proper shoulders, stopping the clock at 1:05:37 to take a commendable win.

Robert Kiserlovski finished in 21st place (+5’26”) and was content with his effort which kept him in 10th place overall.

“I was happy today, I know I can improve, but it’s okay," he said. "For me I prefer to have three climbs before, but I know it’s like this and I must work on the time trial for the future. It is my weakness. First part of the TT I was good, then in the middle I lost a bit of concentration.  I pulled it together and finished strong again."

Riccardo Zoidl was the highest placed for Trek Factory Racing in the punitive uphill time trial, and he crossed the line in a provisional third place. After the final rider, the pink jersey of Quintana, had completed the course, he finished a respectable 13th place (+4’42”).

“Riccardo is strong in the TT," sports director Adriano Baffi said. "The problem is that he has gotten a little tendonitis in the last part of the Giro and we did ask him to not give 100% today. The result is not a surprise for us - he is still far from the performance of the leaders, but this is a good sign for the future.

"He had trouble at the start of the Giro, maybe too much pressure, maybe a result from coming back from the broken collarbone, but it is good to see him ride stronger in the third week. He should be good for the Tour of Austria – we will see if he profits from the Giro.”

Tomorrow’s stage 20 is the final day in the mountains, and last chance for any movement in the GC.  It ends with the ridiculously steep Monte Zoncolan with grades upwards of 20% that could still wreak havoc in the overall – as the popular colloquialism states: ‘it ain’t over till the fat lady sings!’

“One more hard stage and the suffering is over," Kiserlovski said. "But tomorrow is really hard.  I don’t like the climb tomorrow; I know it fairly well as it is close to my home. I have raced it three times and in training maybe done it four to five times. 

"It’s too steep. It works the arms more than the legs. It’s just not the type of climb I prefer, but I hope tomorrow will be okay, if all goes well I should keep the 10th place.”