photo credits @ Giro d’Italia
Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) put in a valiant effort during today’s final 29.3 kilometer time trial stage at the Monza Formula One track in Milan, to finish in second place behind Jos Van Emden (Team LottoNl-Jumbo).
More importantly, Dumoulin’s time of 33:23, was enough to unseat Nairo Quintana (Movistar) by 31 seconds in the overall classification and reclaim his maglia rosa and the overall race title.
Meanwhile, Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Merida) secured the final spot on the podium after finishing 40 seconds behind Dumoulin in the final classification.
Race Highlights
Quintana led the overall classification heading into today’s the final stage, but the Colombian rider was only able to muster a 27th place at 1:39 off of the winner, relegating to second spot on the podium.
After three weeks of captivating racing it all came down to the final time trial, starting on the F1 circuit in Monza and finishing in shadow of the Duomo in central Milan.
Dumoulin began today’s stage 53 seconds behind Quintana. However, he was widely expected to dominate his GC rivals in a short, flat “race against the clock”, thus becoming the first Dutch rider to win the Giro d’Italia.
After the stage, Dumoulin said, “it’s really crazy, I cannot describe it with words. It was such a nerve-racking day but I did it, I had good legs.
“I spoke to my sports director, and he said only if we’re sure I’ll tell you not to take risks in the corners. He said it at halfway already. I was like, this is early to say something like that.
“Then I crossed the line and they were saying you’ve won it – but then I sat here in front of the TV and it was only like three seconds. I was really angry but I eventually pulled it off. It’s incredible.”
“I’m so happy, so emotional,” said stage winner Van Emden. “I was too many times second and this is a great day for Dutch cycling. Tom wins, I win, finally. There are two really happy people inside this tent.”
Top 10 Finishers
1 Jos Van Emden (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:33:08 2 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb 0:00:15 3 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:00:27 4 Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky 0:00:31 5 Joey Rosskopf (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:00:35 6 Jan B‡rta (Cze) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:39 7 Georg Preidler (Aut) Team Sunweb 0:00:51 8 Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:54 9 Jan Tratnik (Slo) CCC Sprandi Polkowice 0:00:57 10 Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team 0:01:02
General Classification
1 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb 90:34:54 2 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:31 3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 0:00:40 4 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 0:01:17 5 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin 0:00:56 6 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:11 7 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:03:41 8 Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors 0:07:04 9 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott 0:08:10 10 Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac 0:15:17
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