But, although he was stripped of the Japan Cup title, it was decided in April he would face no further ban after the International Cycling Union (UCI) backed his claim that his positive test resulted from the consumption of contaminated meat.

This appeared to contravene the zero-tolerance approach to performance enhancing drugs introduced by the new UCI President Brian Cookson, although the governing body denied this was the case.

Now competing for the Tinkoff-Saxo team, Rogers duly proved he still has what it takes to compete with the best by gaining his second stage win of the Giro on stage 20, following an initial success on stage 11.

He broke clear of Francesco Bongiorno on the slopes of Monte Zoncolan, regarded as one of the toughest climbs in world cycling, after the Italian was impeded by a fan, with Bongiorno eventually finishing third after being overtaken by compatriot Franco Pellizotti.
 
"It's really worth it, it's amazing," Rogers said afterwards.

It's always been a dream of mine to win a mountain-top finish like that, Monte Zoncolan is a great climb and to win like that is amazing.

"It's steep, it's one hell of a climb, but it makes it all the more better."

Nairo Quintana effectively sealed a maiden Grand Tour victory after retaining his overall lead in the penultimate stage ©AFP/Getty Images



Five minutes back down the road, Colombian Nairo Quintana effectively sealed overall victory by finishing alongside countryman Rigoberto Urán, his major rival in the overall stakes.

With tomorrow's stage effectively a procession into Trieste which should not affect the overall standings, the 24-year-old Movistar rider Quintana is poised to secure a first Grand Tour victory following second place, behind Chris Froome, in the 2013 Tour de France.

Three minutes behind Quintana, Urán is set to finish runner-up for the second successive year, for Omega Pharma-Quick Step on this occasion, after doing so for Team Sky last year.

Italian Fabio Aru looks on course to break the Colombian monopoly of the podium by finishing third. 

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