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Enlarge Photo Liquigas rider Ivan Basso of Italy climbs Monte Zoncolan on his way to winning the... Italy's Ivan Basso strained every last sinew to win the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday after an epic late battle with world champion Cadel Evans on one of the steepest climbs imaginable.Spain's David Arroyo retained the race lead ahead of Richie Porte but Basso has shot up to third in the overall standings, just three minutes 33 seconds behind the pink jersey wearer, and now looks favourite heading into the final week.
Liquigas rider Basso, the 2006 Giro winner, pulled away with gritted teeth from exhausted Australian Evans with four kilometres to go on the punishing climb up the Monte Zoncolan peak in north eastern Italy.
Hundreds of thousands of fans lined the tight lane up the famous mountain with one spectator unveiling a banner reading "Welcome to the Gates of Hell" as temperatures also soared.
Basso, banned for two years for attempted doping in 2007, was put in a good position by strong work from his Liquigas team as other riders struggled to even turn the pedals given the gradient.
Manuel Belletti, who won the 13th stage, pulled out of the race alongside a number of sprinters with three tough climbs as well as the Zoncolan just proving too much on the 222 km route from near Venice.
Twice Giro winner Gilberto Simoni, who retires after the race, was in the leading pack but fell away on the Zoncolan despite winning stages on the mountain in 2003 and 2007.
This year's Giro is missing top names like Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador as they prepare for July's Tour de France and the race has been dominated by freak results.
The three-week event, the world's second biggest stage race, finishes with an individual time trial in Verona next Sunday.
Monday is the final rest day before another mountain stage on Tuesday with a time trial from San Vigilio di Marebbe to Plan de Corones.
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