page_title: 2015 Giro d'Italia, Stage 1 to Stage 11
section_title: Stage 7
hierarchical_section_title: 2015 Giro d'Italia, Stage 1 to Stage 11 / Stage 7
caption_attribution_description: English: Diego Ulissi at Giro d'Italia 2014
context_page_description: The 2015 Giro d'Italia began on 9 May, and stage 11 occurred on 20 May. The race began with a team time trial from San Lorenzo al Mare to Sanremo.
context_section_description: 15 May 2015 — Grosseto to Fiuggi, 264 km (164.0 mi)
  At 264 kilometers long, the course features the longest stage of the Giro d'Italia since 2000. The route only features one categorized climb - the fourth category Monterotondo. Despite that, there are other uncategorized climb during the course which will make it difficult for the pure sprinters to survive for a final sprint. The stage is expected to be won by a puncheur or a rouleur.
  Despite suffering a shoulder injury, Alberto Contador was able to start the stage. The day's break was formed by four riders, consisting of Androni Giocattoli–Sidermec's Marco Bandiera, Bardiani–CSF's Nicola Boem, Nippo–Vini Fantini's Pierpaolo De Negri and CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice's Nikolay Mihaylov. The peloton let them have an advantage of around 10 minutes with Tinkoff–Saxo controlling the chase and protecting Contador. Due to a strong headwind, the peloton's pace averaged only around 35 km/h. Bandiera won took maximum points at the intermediate sprint, after which he pulled out a piece of paper to wish his father a "happy birthday". The break's advantage eventually began to fall quickly after BMC Racing Team hit the front of the peloton.
  Bandiera once again took maximum points at the second intermediate sprint but the break was caught with 21 kilometers left. Tinkoff-Saxo, once again, kept station at the front to protect Contador from any danger. Several sprinters fell off the back once the peloton reached the final stretch of the stage. Yesterday's stage winner, André Greipel, tried to stay with the peloton but he also fell off the back. Michael Matthews sacrificed his chances for Simon Gerrans but they were not well-placed for the sprint. Eventually, it was Diego Ulissi who came to the front. No one was able to match his speed as he won his first stage since his nine-month suspension. Contador and the other GC favourites finished safely within the peloton and as a result, Contador kept the maglia rosa.
caption: Diego Ulissi took a somewhat surprising victory on the slightly raising finish
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