From the start in San Lorenzo al Mare to the finish in Milan, photos capture May's traveling road show
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Alberto Contador winks as he grabs a bottle of champagne to celebrate on the podium after winning the 98th Giro d'Italia.
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Tom Boonen and Rigoberto Uran arrive at the 2015 Giro d'Italia team presentation.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The Giro d'Italia trophy awaits the 2015 winner.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The 2015 Giro's opening presentation gets underway.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Tinkoff-Saxo Giro riders and staff celebrate Contador's win.(Image credit: Bettini)
Alberto Contador pours the celebratory champagne for his team.(Image credit: Bettini)
Alberto Contador with his custom Giro bike.(Image credit: Bettini)
Contador celebrates during the Giro's final stage.(Image credit: Bettini)
Alberto Contador holds his 2015 Giro trophy.(Image credit: Bettini)
Alberto Contador and Oleg Tinkov duing stage 21 of the Giro.(Image credit: Bettini)
Aru, Contador and Landa on the final Giro podium.(Image credit: Bettini)
Iljo Keisse celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 21st and final stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia.
Alberto Contador celebrates with his Tinkoff-Saxo teammates and Russian businessman and team sponsor Oleg Tinkov on the podium after winning the 98th Giro d'Italia.
Alberto Contador crosses the finish line to win the 2015 Giro.
Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) celebrates on the podium after winning the 13th stage of the 2015 Giro d'Italia.
Riders tackle a tunnel during the Giro's team time trial.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Etixx-QuickStep cut a quick figure along the coast during the Giro's team time trial.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale-Garmin) and Rigoberto Uran (Etixx-QuickStep).(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Alberto Contador, Ryder Hesjedal, Fabio Aru and Steven Kruijswijk.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Maxime Monfort (Lotto Soudal)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale-Garmin) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Spectators run alongside Alberto Contador.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The peloton cruises along the seaside at the 2015 Giro.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Contador attacks Astana and Aru.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Fabio Aru shows the toll of a hard-fought Giro.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Ryder Hesjedal climbs through the crowds in Italy.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Ilnur Zakarin (Team Katusha) wins stage 11 of the 2015 Giro.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Simon Clarke gives Richie Porte a wheel during stage 10. Porte was later penalised.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Alberto Contador looking confident on the Giro podium.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Davide Formolo attacks the breakaway on his way to winning stage 4 for Cannondale-Garmin.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Fabio Aru wins stage 19 of the Giro.
Fabio Aru talks with media during a rest day press conference.
A small video camera is hung on the handlebar of a rider's bike before the 9th stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia.
Benat Intxausti (Movistar) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 8th stage of the Giro d'Italia.
Diego Ulissi and friend on the podium after winning stage 7.
A lotto Soudal rider is confident in teammate Andre Greipel's stage 6 win.
Contador sits in his team car after crashing near the finish of stage 6.
Contador in pink for stage 6 at the Giro and Aru in white.
A preview of things to come with Fabio Aru and Alberto Contador battling during stage 5.
Jan Polanc of Slovenia (Lampre-Merida) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 5th stage of the Giro d'Italia.
The pack takes the start of the 5th stage of the Giro d'Italia.
Just a few pink balloons ready to be released.
Michael Matthews wins stage 3 of the 2015 Giro.
Michael Matthews sings in for stage 3 after earning pink the day before.
Elia Viviani celebrates as he wins the 2nd stage Albenga-Genova of the 98th Giro
Orica-GreenEdge celebrate in force after winning the 2015 Giro's opening time trial.
Simon Gerrans of Orica-GreenEdge cycling team (R) competes in the first stage of the Giro d'Italia.
Fabio Aru (Astana), Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) and Richie Porte (Team Sky) cross the finish line of the 9th stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia
Fabio Aru (Astana) signs autographs during a day of rest of the 98th Giro d'Italia.
Porte's bedroom in the Team Sky RV at the Giro.
Richie Porte's Team Sky RV made a big splash at the Giro.
Mikel Landa (Astana) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 15th stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia.
People gather at Piazza degli Scacchi before the start of the 15th stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia.
Kevin Reza (team FDJ.fr) rides to the start of the 15th stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia
Alberto Contador rides back into pink during stage 14 of the 2015 Giro.
Vasil Kiryienka (Team Sky) warmed up for his World Championship time trial ride by winning stage 14 of the Giro.
Fabio Aru suffered in the cold and wet of stage 14 and surrendered the pink jersey back to Contador.
A mudguard 'Ass Saver' is attached on the bike of Russian Yury Trofimov (team Katusha) before the start of the 13th stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia.
UCI President Brian Cookson gives the pink jersey to Alberto Contador after the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia.
Fabio Aru of the Astana Pro team leaves under heavy rain after the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia.
Philippe Gilbert of the BMC team celebrates as he crosses the finish line under heavy rain to win the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia.
Riders take the start of the 12th stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia.
Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha) poses on the podium with lipstick marks on his face after winning the 11th stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia.
Nicola Boem crosses the finish line to win the 10th stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia.
Spanish rider Alberto Contador gives a press conference on the eve of the start of the 98th Giro d'Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race, on May 8, 2015 in San Lorenzo al Mare.
Never known to be low on drama, the Giro d'Italia delivered again in 2015 with three thrilling weeks of racing that saw forbidden help between countrymen on different teams, weather that tested the mettle and nerves of the riders, a past champion who rose to the occasion in the final week but fell just short of the podium, and a returning champion who was under threat from a younger up-and-coming rival.
From the opening team time trial in San Lorenzo al Mare to the incredibly cagey two-up sprint for the final stage win in Milan, the Italian Grand Tour provided plenty of compelling action.
