Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) is the first Colombian to lead the Giro d’Italia. Uran seized the race lead by dominating today’s hilly, 41.6-km time trial from Barbaresco to Barolo in 57:34. Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) finished second at 1:17, and maglia rosa Cadel Evans (BMC) finished third at 1:34.

Rick Flens (Belkin) set the early standard with a 1:01:49. The Dutchman remained in the lead for about half an hour. As the race wore on, rain began to fall. The precipitation seemed to affect the riders most on the descent from the day’s first climb.

Patrick Gretsch (Ag2r-La Mondiale) took the lead, only to see Thomas De Gendt (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) snatch it from him. De Gendt would be one of four of Omega Pharma-Quick Step riders to finish in the top ten.

Ulissi was 0:23 behind De Gendt at the first time check, but the Italian poured on the coal. He finished 0:50 ahead of the Belgian with the race leaders coming up.

The stage would come down to the battle between Evans and Uran. From the earliest moments, it was clear that Uran would win. At the second time check, the Colombian had the fastest time of the day and led Evans by 0:59. It was evident that Evans had to make an extraordinary effort to keep Uran from taking the maglia rosa. It was Uran, however, who had the extraordinary effort, as he extended his lead over the Australian.

Uran was the clear winner today. Other riders had reasons for rejoicing or satisfaction in their results. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo Bank) lost 0:42 to Evans and 1:39 to Uran, but the Pole solidified his hold on third place overall. Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) rose from seventh to fifth on GC, and Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r-La Mondiale), who is not a time trialist, kept his fourth place overall. If the Italian did not gain ground, he did not lose any.

The day did have losers. One of these was Nairo Quintana (Movistar), who lost a minute and three quarters. Fabio Aru (Astana), Italy’s young hopeful, lost two minutes and dropped from sixth to seventh. Ivan Basso (Cannondale), who began the day at 2:01, crashed and is now at 5:09.

Uran worked on his time trialing and hoped to win today. "I worked a lot for this stage,” he said. “We came here two months ago to perform recon. We worked a lot with Specialized, including in the wind tunnel in California. I was very good at the time trial at the Tour de Romandie and carried my condition into the Giro. I kept receiving information about the times of Cadel Evans as I went along the course today. I think it made a difference. I was really hoping to win today and I'm happy I made it.”

For his part, Evans was expected to keep the maglia rosa. Although the Australian is not out of the race, his result was a disappointing surprise. "As I told you a few days ago, I saw Uran coming into form, but I honestly did not expect him to have such an amazing time trial," the BMC man said. "Of course, I had hoped to have done better myself. The time trial course suited me well, but as I said yesterday, the verdict is on the road."

In the overall, Uran leads Evans by 0:37 and Majka by 1:52. Stage 13 will not change this state of affairs. The flat, 157-km run from Fossano to Rivarolo Canavese will feature only one categorized climb, a Category 4. The stage should end in a bunch sprint. Who will take it? Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr)? Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek)? Elia Viviani (Cannondale)? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!