Canada's Ryder Hesjedal finishes 2nd in 19th stage at Giro d'Italia

Canada's Ryder Hesjedal finished second in Friday's stage of the Giro d'Italia and jumped two places to seventh overall.

The Victoria, B.C. native finished 28 seconds behind Italy's Fabio Aru, and Rigoberto Uran, the Colombian who finished second the last two years, crossed third, 1:10 back.

Alberto Contador had 38 seconds sliced off his overall lead in the 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Friday, although the Spaniard remained well on course for the title.

Rival Aru won the mountain stage with a late breakaway and moved back into second place overall, four minutes 37 seconds behind Contador. 

Aru's Astana teammate Mikel Landa dropped to third overall, 5:15 back, entering Saturday's final mountain stage before Sunday's flat finish in Milan.

Aru required nearly 6 1/2 hours over the 236-kilometre leg from Gravellona Toce to Cervinia, which included three major climbs, including an uphill finish.

Contador and Landa were in a group of riders who finished 1:18 behind.

Contador showed little interest in chasing Aru, choosing to follow Landa instead.

"I was marking Landa, my biggest rival," Contador said. "Aru was the strongest today."

Contador may have also been saving his energy for Saturday's penultimate stage, a 199-kilometre leg from Saint-Vincent to Sestriere that includes a gruelling climb up a dirt road on Colle delle Finestre.

Contador has not won a stage in this year's race.

"I've been working for the pink jersey for five months," Contador said. "Winning a stage is secondary."

Contador is attempting to become the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Giro and Tour de France in the same year.

A two-time Tour champion, Contador won the Giro in 2008 and was also triumphant in Milan in 2011 but was stripped of that title for testing positive in the 2010 Tour.

Canada's other entry in the race, Hugo Houle of Sainte-Perpetue, Que., finished 105th in Stage 19 and was 115th overall.