After losing time in both time trials held within the first four stages, Scarponi advanced on the race's first summit finish - stage seven - at Rocca di Cambio. Lampre-ISD held station at the front of the peloton before the climb, with Przemysław Niemiec protecting Scarponi, before Scarponi made an attack on the climb, with Astana's Paolo Tiralongo going with him; Scarponi held the lead until the final corner, when Tiralongo came around the outside of him, to take the victory. Scarponi moved into the top ten of the overall classification definitively after stage 14, and worked his way into the top five three stages later, with a sixth-place finish on stage 17 finish. Scarponi was one of a lead group of six riders that remained on the Giau Pass; he was dropped towards the top of the climb along with Rigoberto Urán, but they both made it back into the lead group on the descent into Cortina d'Ampezzo. On stage 19 finishing on the Pampeago Pass, Scarponi tried to breach the group of overall contenders on the final climb, but was unable to do so. He ultimately finished the stage in fourth place, but moved up to third overall.