MONTE ZONCOLAN, Italy: Nairo Quintana of Colombia was poised to win the Giro d’Italia at the first attempt after holding off his rivals in the penultimate stage, a 167-km mountain ride won by Australian Michael Rogers on Saturday.

Tinkoff-Saxo rider Rogers, who was last month cleared of wrongdoing after a positive test for clenbuterol last year, was the strongest rider involved in the 20th stage’s early breakaway, beating Italians Franco Pellizotti and Francesco Bongiorno for his second stage victory of the tour.

Bongiorno was with Rogers in the finale but was cost time when he lost his balance after being touched by a spectator.

Tour de France runner-up Quintana, 24, was never bothered by his rivals in the final ascent, an intimidating climb up the Monte Zoncolan at an average gradient of 11.9 percent over 10.1-km.

The Movistar rider arrived almost five minutes behind Rogers, just ahead of compatriot Rigoberto Uran, who remains second overall, 3:07 behind.

Italian Fabio Aru, who crossed the line some 15 seconds behind, is still third.

Sunday’s 21st and final stage is a flat ride over 172-km from Gemona del Friuli to Trieste. (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Josh Reich)

Results from Giro d’Italia (Maniago — Monte Zoncolan, 167 km) on Saturday:

1. Michael Rogers (Australia / Tinkoff — Saxo) 4:41:55” 2. Franco Pellizotti (Italy / Androni Giocattoli) +38” 3. Francesco Bongiorno (Italy / Bardiani Valvole) +49” 4. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Tinkoff — Saxo) +1:35” 5. Brent Bookwalter (US / BMC Racing) +1:37” 6. Robinson Chalapud (Colombia / Colombia) +1:46” 7. Georg Preidler (Austria / Giant) +1:52” 8. Maxime Monfort (Belgium / Lotto) +2:12” 9. Dario Cataldo (Italy / Team Sky) +2:24” 10. Simon Geschke (Germany / Giant) +2:37” 11. Mattia Cattaneo (Italy / Lampre) +2:39” 12. Yonathan Monsalve (Venezuela / Neri Sottoli) +3:02” 13. Riccardo Zoidl (Austria / Trek) +3:14” 14. Axel Domont (France / AG2R) +3:21” 15. Maxim Belkov (Russia / Katusha) +3:46” 16. Edoardo Zardini (Italy / Bardiani Valvole) 17. Nairo Quintana (Colombia / Movistar) +4:45” 18. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Omega Pharma — Quick-Step) 19. Tim Wellens (Belgium / Lotto) +4:51” 20. Wout Poels (Netherlands / Omega Pharma — Quick-Step) +4:59” 21. Rafal Majka (Poland / Tinkoff — Saxo) 22. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana) +5:01” 23. Pierre Rolland (France / Europcar) +5:05” 24. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R) +5:10” 25. Wilco Kelderman (Netherlands / Belkin) +6:25” 26. Robert Kiserlovski (Croatia / Trek) +6:35” 27. Pieter Serry (Belgium / Omega Pharma — Quick-Step) +6:52” 28. Fabio Duarte (Colombia / Colombia) 29. Jarlinson Pantano (Colombia / Colombia) +7:01” 30. Hubert Dupont (France / AG2R) +7:06“