Alberto Contador attacks on Mount Etna to take over the Maglia Rosa

Alberto Contador claimed his first victory of the 2011 Giro D’Italia, on the slopes on Mount Etna, and the pink jersey with it on stage nine.

Contador left it until 7km to go and left Michele Scarponi and Jose Rujano in his wake, as he powered up the side of the volcano. The Spaniard started the day 13 seconds behind leader Pieter Weening, but the win gives him a bigger 59 seconds over Kanstantsin Sivtsov. Some of Contador’s main rivals, including Vincenzo Nibali, weren’t able to respond and lost almost a minute on the man from Pinto.

The day’s route was one of the most punishing of the tour and scaled Etna twice, while also descending down towards the sea. Peter Kennaugh and Danilo Di Luca were part of a series of brief and unsuccessful attempts at a breakaway. Eventually it was a group of nine riders, including Mathias Frank and Yaroslav Popovych, who made the decisive move. The nine riders managed a maximum break of 5 minutes, but the gap yo-yoed for most of the day.

With 13km left to go Frank and three other riders still held a 2:30 minute gap to the peloton. Smelling victory getting closer the remaining four riders began to go on solo attacks, which allowed the main group to close in. Pink jersey wearer Weening finally cracked, as the bunch hit Mount Etna and with it his hopes of retaining the jersey for another day.

Back at the head of the race Jan Bakelandts looked to have made his attack stick, but Contador ended his bid. Scarponi held on to his coattails, but the 2008 Giro winner was in sparkling form and the Italian had to admit defeat.

If Nibali hopes to add the Giro to his 2010 Vuelta victory, he will have to overcome the 1:21 that stands between him and Contador. The Spaniard will hold the jersey going in to the first rest day and will take it in to stage 10.