photo credits @ Giro d’Italia
Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost) took an impressive win in stage 17 of the Giro d’Italia today, soloing to victory on the Passo Brocon summit finish, crossing the line almost a minute and a half ahead of his closest rival race leader Tadej Pogačar.
The German rider was part of the day’s early breakaway group, a move that was caught on the Passo Gobbera 61 kilometers from the finish, before striking out again just a few kilometers later, quickly jettisoning his fellow breakaway companion Amanuel Ghebriegzabhier (Lidl-Trek) midway up the first ascent of the Brocon with 34 kilometers to go.
Rounding out the day’s podium was the white jersey of Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), who led home Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe), Einer Rubio (Movistar) and Romain Bardet (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) to take third place at 1:41 back.
Meanwhile, Pogačar extended his lead in the general classification, riding away from his rivals on the final climb. While he seemed to easily take time on Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe), he ran out of road to take his sixth stage win of the race.
Race Highlights
Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step), Attila Valter (Visma-Lease a Bike), Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious), Giulio Pellizzari (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) and Steinhauser were amongst the day’s early breakaway group, with Pellizzari scooping up King of the Mountains points, including over the top of the Passo Rolle, which substituted as the “Cima Coppi” following rerouting of Tuesday’s stage.
The escapees never opened up more than a modest advantage over the peloton, with Pogačar keen to keep them in sight. Indeed, it wasn’t long before most of the group was reined in, leaving just Steinhauser and Ghebriegzabhier out front alone for a few kilometers, before the former commenced his winning move.
The Giro continues tomorrow, with the final transition stage before a double-whammy weekend with two decisive climbing stages on tap Friday and Saturday.
The 178-kilometer 18th stage from Fiera di primiero to Padova is relatively straightforward, with some hilly terrain and one fourth-category climb that should produce the day’s main breakaway in the opening hour.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
