photo credits @ Giro d’Italia
Tadej Pogačar further stamped his authority on this year’s Giro d’Italia with another stunning victory in today’s stage 15.
The Slovenian rider rode away from a select group of GC riders along the penultimate first-category climb of the Passo di Foscagno, putting three minutes into them as he passed the remains of the breakaway – including sole leader Nairo Quintana (Movistar), whom he raced past to seize today’s Queen stage.
Meanwhile, almost three lapsed before the rest of the group crossed the finish, with Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) leading the way, as third-place finisher Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) crossed the line some eight seconds later.
Race Highlights
A massive group of around 50 riders came to form the day’s first breakaway effort, but the group was eventually whittled down to around 15, with Michael Storer, Quintana and six Bardiani riders factoring prominently at the front.
From there, the group went on to establish an advantage of just over 5 minutes, while a few riders made their into the break as the race tackled the Passo del Mortirolo, with Christian Scaroni and Giulio Pellizzari leading over the climb, followed closely by Nicola Conci and Simon Geschke.
Still holding to around 15 riders, Jhonatan Narváez and Scaroni put in a few attacks, but none were made to stick along the start of the Passo del Foscagno.
Georg Steinhauser was the next to try his luck, later opening up a gap of around 40 seconds as the breakaway began to shed its members.
With 17 kilometers to go, Quintana attacked from out of the chase, eventually catching up with and dropping Steinhauser.
Led out by his UAE team, Pogačar attacked with 14 kilometers to go, later catching Quintana with 2 kilometers to go along the final climb to seize the stage honors.
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