The mountain jersey wins in a 1-2 finish for what's becoming the 'Colombian-Giro'

It's always nice at some point in a Grand Tour to see the King of the Mountains leader, decked out in his King of the Mountains jersey, win a mountain stage. Julian David Arredondo done that yesterday in fine style cresting all three of the days big climbs, the final of which he was alone to win in style. The victory all but seals the blue jersey classification in his favour and sets up the probability that Colombian riders will win both the mountains and overall titles.

Remember back to the first week of this Giro when I was talking about it being an 'Aussie-Giro' thanks to the team-time-trial won by Orica Greenedge and then Michael Matthews taking the pink jersey for several days before Cadel Evans grabbed it for a few more? Well all that has swung in the direction of a 'Colombian-Giro'.

The top two positions overall are headed by the Colombians of Nairo Quintana and Rigoberto Uran while on today's stage Arredondo was followed home by fellow countryman, Fabio Duarte. That's three stage wins now for Colombians and their so called re-emergence back to the sharp end of cycling is all but complete and perhaps looking better than ever. People remember fondly the glory days in the 1980s of Luis Herrera and Fabio Parra but never before have they dominated in such numbers are they are right now. Even their 90s and 00s success via Oliverio Rincón, Santiago Botero and Mauricio Soler before his premature retirement, were fleeting by comparison.

One look at the age of these imerging Colombian talents says a lot as to how bright their future is: Quintana, 24 years of age; Uran, 27; Arredondo, 25; Duarte, 27, Jarlinson Pantano, 25; Sebastián Henao, 20; and (not in this Giro) Sergio Henao, 26. Their success is only beginning.

In terms of the GC battle today, the biggest loser was Cadel Evans who once again shipped time on his rivals and dropped from 3rd overall to 9th. It isn't quite as dramatic as it looks given that only 28 seconds separated 3rd to 7th coming into the stage, but it's still a big blow for the Australian who had to be thinking about winning this Giro just a week ago.

Only Fabio Aru out of the main GC boys took a little time back on Quintana -- 3 seconds -- while Quintana and Uran took a little more time out of the rest of their rivals as they edged ahead towards the line but a few seconds here and there was all that was conceded as 90 seconds now split 3rd and 9th.

This Giro is looking more and more likely to be a battle for the final podium spot than for the overall victory and that battle will be fought for fiercely tomorrow as they take to the roads alone for the mountain time-trial.

Result: 1. Julian David Arredondo (Trek Factory) in 4-49-51; 2. Fabio Duarte (Colombia) + 17sec; 3. Philip Deignan (Sky) + 37sec; 4. Franco Pellizotti (Androni) + 1-20; 5. Edoardo Zardini (Bardiani-CSF) + 1-24; 6. Thomas De Gendt (OPQS) + 1-38.

Overall: 1. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) in 77-58-08; 2. Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) + 1-41; 3. Pierre Rolland (Europcar) + 3-29; 4. Fabio Aru (Astana) + 3-31; 5. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) + s.t.; 6. Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) + 3-52; 7. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp) + 4-32; 8. Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) + 4-37; 9. Cadel Evans (BMC) + 4-59; 10. Robert Kiserlovski (Trek Factory) + 8-33.