Fabio Aru took the leader's pink jersey Friday in the 13th stage of the Giro d'Italia as race favourite Alberto Contador crashed and fell behind.
It was the first time Spaniard Contador has lost the lead of a Grand Tour in his cycling career.
As the Giro moved through the rainy Veneto region, Contador was involved in a major crash involving several cyclists, which allowing sprinter Sacha Modolo to win the 13th stage.
Meanwhile Sardinian Aru finished 19 seconds ahead of Contador, who was involved in a bad crash earlier during the sixth stage of the competition and feared then he might have to drop out.
However, tests showed he did not break any bones although he hit his shoulder hard in the fall.
Contador, the 2008 Giro champion and twice Tour de France winner, was unable to put on the pink leader's jersey at the end of that stage and appeared on the podium with his arm in a sling.
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