Giro d`Italia: Alberto Contador takes lead as Jan Polanc wins fifth stage

Abetone: Race favourite Alberto Contador took the Giro d`Italia`s overall leader`s pink jersey after Wednesday`s fifth stage won by Slovenian Jan Polanc.

Lampre`s Polanc, 23 and on only his second major tour, was the survivor of a long breakaway, coming home 1min 31sec ahead of fellow escapee, veteran Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel, who just held off the chasing peloton at the summit finish of a gruelling climb of the celebrated Giro mountain at Abetone.

In third, fourth and fifth places came three contenders for the overall standings in Astana`s Fabio Aru, who just edged Contador, and Sky`s team leader Richie Porte, the trio clocking the same time after numerous counter-attacks up the final punishing climb.