"Okey guys, listen up. Today might be a day we can pull something off. If not, save energy as much as you can. Bernard is the only one that has a free role. About the route. It's basically flat, with just a few climbs and undulations in the first part, and finishes at the top of the short Terme Luigiane uphill stretch. The stage starts from Reggio Calabria and the first 190 km are on a wide trunk road, at points a fast-flow road, with no grade-level intersections. I still want us to stay at the front as much as possible. The first stages have been plauged by crashes. Then the route clears the Barritteri categorised climb, and heads for an intermediate sprint in Mileto. Next comes a short, steep climb after Marina di Fuscaldo, followed by a technical descent leading to the final 15 kilometres. Note that the route takes a 600-m stretch on dual carriageway, and descends on hairpin bends 4 km before the finish that takes place in Terme Luigiane. The final climb totals 2 km at an average 5.3% gradient, on wide, well-surfaced roadway, with no sharp changes of direction. The final km has a 5 to 10% gradient. The home stretch, running entirely uphill, is 500 m long, on 6-m wide asphalt road. If you Giacomo feel good, we can try to get some points, if not, Gogl and Bernard have free passes today in the finish."
The first part of the race was fast, as the Trek - Segafredo squad was putting pressure on the field. Not letting any groups go, until right before the climb of Barritteri. As the climb started, Alessio Taliani went of the front, with nobody chasing. As the field got a bit up the climb, Bernard - Roger Kluge - Pieter Serry and Enrico Barbin went after.
Over the top Bernard claimed the points, and a trio had formed.
The group worked well together, as the stage might be a stage a break could go all the way
As the race drew closer to Terme Luigiane, the UAE squad was towing the peleton. That had to be a sign that their man, Diego Ulissi, felt good.
With the intermediate sprint in Mileto close, and points still on the table. Nizzolo sprinted from the peleton to score the points.
Next came a short, steep climb after Marina di Fuscaldo, followed by a technical descent leading to the final 15 kilometres. Bernard was the first man over the top, and now leading the race.
Julian Bernard now was working against the field, with the finish line in Terme Luigiane getting closer by every pedal stroke.
The UAE squad had no problem catching the frenchman out front, and as he was caught. Trek - Segafredo, led by Michael Gogl, was now in front setting the pace. With Giacomo Nizzolo at the end of their train.
Then the peleton could see the last challange of the day, The final climb in Terme Luigiane which totals 2 km at an average 5.3% gradient
Jasper Stuyven went full gas, with yesterdays winner, Giacomo Nizzolo on his wheel. With the leader of the race - Simon Yates behind them. When Nizzolo went, he had a super punch - nobody could match it. And the italian claims his second, suprinsingly, win in a row. What a day in the saddle!
Second day of champagne for the Trek - Segafredo squad!
"Somebody ready for a hat-trick or what? Let's get some energy now! Look alive!
Giacomo is on fire, we need to capitalize on this. I want the same thing as before, let's get after this one like we have the last couple of days. Quickly about the finish today.
From 5 to 1.5 km to the finish, the route runs mostly uphill, with a short descent that ends 700 m before the finish. The route climbs slightly in the stage finale, with a few mild bends. The finish line sits on a 100-m long and 7.5-m wide asphalt straight."
A rather large group got away from the rest as the stage started today. A couple of dangerous riders was within the group, like Breschel and Ignatas Konovalovas.
As the race got closer to the only point giving climb of the day, Bosco Delle Pianelle. Quickstep and Trek - Segafredo had started pulling the break back - as the gap was now 3'14.
There was a fight for the points, mostly as psychological warfare, and Jelle Wallays won the battle.
The finish in Alberobello came closer at an alarming rate, as the breakaway out in front worked suprisingly well together. The Peleton had to work for this one today!
With 5 KM left, the break still had a gap on the peleton, but they looked gassed. As Ignatas Konovalovas was the only one doing work now.
When the breakaway got reeled in, Van Poppel took the lead in the now fast paced peleton. Leading Stuyven and Nizzolo out, like so many times this Giro.
And when the lead-outs released their respective sprinters, it looked to be yet another showdown between the trio of Ewan, Gaviria and Nizzolo. With Jakub Mareczko and Sonny Colbrelli threatening.
Nizzolo on the line againg, hat-trick! With 3 stages in a row, setting the post-WWII record for consecutive stage wins, the italian could throw his hands over his head - what a performance!
With an historic performance by the Trek - Segafredo rider, Giacomo Nizzolo, the victory might be bitter sweet. As Colbrelli has filed a complaint, regarding Nizzolo's fighting for posistion during the last kilometers.
"Alright guys, after three in a row for Nizzolo. I want to reward you guys, we need Van Poppel around Nizzolo, the rest of you - free pass. Try your luck gentleman. If we can't get away, i want to try something in the end, so im going to quickly go over the finale.
The stage finale is fairly complex, with a fast-running descent from 5 to 3 km to the finish, followed by a short flat stretch, up to 1,500 m from the finish. Here begins the closing climb, which grows increasingly steeper as the finish draws nearer (with peaks reaching 12%), and with several sharp bends. The home straight (200 m), on 7-m wide stone-paved road, has a 9-10% uphill gradient."
A larger group of 8 managed to break free from the peleton, as Trek - Segafredo had two riders in this group. Daniel and Bernard.
At the bottom of the climb to Monte Sant'Angelo, the break was still working together.
Over the top of Monte Sant'Angelo, Bernard led the group that had now broken up. Amongst the riders who now was back in the peleton, was Gregory Daniel.
The original group of 8, was now down to 5. As Bernard urged everybody to continue to work hard together. As he wanted to stay clear until the final KOM giving climb of the day, Coppa Santa Tecla.
As the peleton started climbing Coppa Santa Tecla, the group out front had still a gap of just under one minute.
Over the top of Coppa Santa Tecla, Bernard was now alone as he had broken free from the others - and claimed maxium points today. He was now the new leader of the KOM classification.
With 20 KM left of the stage to Peschici, Bernard still led the field with a smaller gap down to the chasing peleton led by Quickstep.
5 KM left, and Bernard had been swallowded up by the peleton. And Quickstep was setting a hard pace - trying to prevent any more attacks.
With just one KM left, Gogl tried a long sprint - but quickly fell short, as he cleary did not have the legs for it today.
Then Nizzolo tried his luck, going for it all - a fourth win in a row. He came close - but no sigar. As Tom Dumoulin, Simon Yates, Edvald Boasson Hagen and Daniel Martin came flying by with a few meters left.
Tom Dumoulin took it on the line, in front of the pink wearing brit, Simon Yates.
A good day in the saddle for Trek - Segafredo, as they now re-claimed the KOM jersey with Bernard. Tomorrows stage will be the last before the second rest day. So fireworks awaits us.
"Good morning guys, one last effort before a well deserved rest. I don't expect much today, other then that Nizzolo gets to the finish unscaved and within the time limit. If you feel good, feel free to try something. Either way, a quick lesson in what to expect in the final climb to Blockhaus.
Arrival at Blockhaus, last won by Franco Pellizotti in 2009. The last 13 km go up steadily on narrow road, with several hairpins. Gradients are over 9% for almost 10 km, with peaks reaching as high as 14%. There is a very short counterslope 500 m before the finish. The home straight has an uphill gradient of approx. 8%."
The morning break went without any competition or complaints from the peleton. Martinez went as the flagged dropped and got company from Gogl, Stuyven and Wackermann.
After the break went, nothing happend during the period before Blockhaus. Orica, FDJ and Quickstep held the break close the entire stage. As the breakaway started the climb to Blockhaus, they had a gap of 2'26 down to the field. Stuyven tried his luck, as Martinez counter quickly.
Then the Peleton started the climb, and as soon as the gradient went up - so did Domenico Pozzovivo. The tiny Italian was flying, but his efforts only got him a small gap, as Nibali's Bahrain - Merida made sure the pace was high.
Daniel Martin could not let Pozzovivo be the only one to get praise by the commentators, as he threw his chain on the big ring and set off after him. The game was on.
The maglia rosa, Simon Yates, felt the pressure and went of on his own to bridge the gap. As the duo in front had caught Martinez from the morning breakaway.
The field recognized Yate's efforts, and the field brought everybody back. As it now was a smaller group of GC contenders gathered out front.
Then Yates went again, and nobody responded.
The time trail horse from the Netherlands, Tom Dumoulin, set his own pace in a desperate attempt to bring back the flying brit out front.
As the summit of Blockhaus drew ever closer, Tom Dumoulin and Thibaut Pinot had no caught back up to Simon Yates and in the process distanced the trio of Nibali, Pozzovivo and Martin.
The stage winner was in the first group for sure.
Nothing could be done about Yates today, he looked incredible all day as he rolled over the line in Blockhaus.
Summit finishes allways invites fun bike racing, and today did not disappointing as the stage gave a lot of answers of who to look out for in this years edition. Riders like Ilnur Zakarin, Mikel Landa and Rigoberto Urán need to use the rest day to figure things out after a horrible start to the Giro.
"Good morning gentleman, considering it was a hard day yesterday and a time trail tomorrow, we won't do much time on the bike today. So a quick coffee ride is all we'll do.
After a meal and some rest, it's media time. So keep your cool in front of the reporters. That's about it, let's go out and enjoy ourselfs today"
Overheard on the ride
"I'd say i should get a statue of me now? Right? I made history you know."
"If he don't shut up soon im going to make him. If it wasen't for me, he would still be in the amatures."
"So he told you he would retire? Wow."
The same as before the Giro, please write questions for the squad. I'll pick the best ones and use them in the Press Conference
"Gentleman, today is all about conserving energy. Just get through. However, quickly about the stage.
The route quickly leaves the old town centre and takes relatively wide and mainly straight roads for over 12 kilometres, until past Bevagna (time recording). The route then starts to climb at an average 4-5% gradient, and reaches Madonna delle Grazie, where the road becomes a false flat up. A fast-running and technical descent twists and turns all the way to San Marco, where the road flattens and straightens out. The route takes a U-turn in Bastardo (second time recording), then a false-flat uphill drag leads to Montefalco. The slopes are never steep, yet the climb is unrelenting. The road, narrowed at points, leads all the way to the walled city of Montefalco (unprecedented stage town). The final kilometres are slightly uphill. In the last kilometre, the route descends and passes through a gateway, and then goes up again, on a short, steep ramp, leading into the 200-m long, uphill home straight, on 6-m wide asphalt road."
Jos Van Emden was the first of the real contenders for the stage win to cross the line in Bastardo, crushing the previous time set by Tom Scully by 1'47. He overtook Sean De Bie as they both started the last part into the finish in Montefalco.
Nelson Oliveira was the next man to set a new best time, as he took Van Emdens time down by 4' seconds.
Vasil Kiryienka started the stage strong, as he set a new best time at the first time check in Bevagna. He had worked up a lead by 2' seconds to Jurgen Van Den Broeck.
At the second check point in Bastardo, the Team Sky rider had not slowed down. Increasing his lead by 6' seconds as it now was 10'.
As he crossed the line, Kiryienka had gained another 6' seconds, and he was now the new leader.
Then it was set for another contender for the stage, Rohan Dennis from BMC. The Australian also started strong, and dethroned Vasil by 1' second. The race was on!
The time check in Bastardo was a clear indicator, Rohan was on the move. The gap between him and Kiryienka was now 2' seconds.
As Rohan was on the charge, all the attention turned to the start ramp in Foligno, as the biggest favourite for the stage started his time trail. Tom Dumoulin.
Then the attention turned back on the virtual leader of the stage, Rohan Dennis. As he set a new best time at the finish. 54'17" was now the time to beat. As Rohan beat Vasil by 3' seconds.
Rohan Dennis and Vasil Kiryienka's efforts seemed to be for not, as Tom Dumoulin crushed their times at the first time check in Bevagna. Beating Dennis by 9' seconds.
Then the last man starting from Foligno crossed the line in Bevagna, he had allready lost 18' seconds to Dumoulain. Meaning he was still holding on to the Maglia Rosa by a margin of 1'05".
Would he be able to hold on?
Tom Dumoulin was looking strong and motivated as he could smell the pink leaders jersey. He set another best time with 37'17" beating Dennis by now 1'03". As Ion Izagirre was the man behind Tom now, being 53' seconds behind.
Then everybody was waiting for the race leader to cross the second time check. And he was on the defencive now, 1'13" behind Dumoulin. Still hanging on to the jersey by 10' seconds.
All the reporters and race officals was now waiting for Dumoulin and Yates, but in the meantime Nibali showed he was starting to find his form, setting a time of 54'20" and was only 13' seconds behind Izagirre.
The speaker at the finish line was hyped now, as the crowed could see a blue shadow getting ever closer to the finish.
"Here comes Tom Dumoulin Ladies and Gentleman. The clock says 51'30" with a little over 1000m left."
"And there, Tom clocks in on 52'43" and is the new leader of the stage, will it be enough to capture the lead of the race aswell?!"
Yates was a beaten man, but was riding the time trail of his life. He may have lost the lead of the race, but he is only 25' seconds behind in the GC. He will live to fight another day.
Tom Dumoulin could now dress in pink tomorrow, as he is the new race leader.
"Good morning gentleman, today we attack! Let us go over the stage, and i want to see some energy now. Bernard, be ready!"
"This hilly stage across the Apennines takes in 4 consecutive categorised climbs, with not even a single flat stretch in between: Passo della Consuma, Passo della Calla, Passo del Carnaio and Monte Fumaiolo. After clearing Passo del Carnaio, the route takes a first pass on the finish line in Bagno di Romagna. Then comes a long ring (approx. 52 km) that takes the riders to clear the Monte Fumaiolo categorised summit. A long drop then leads all the way to the finish."
"This means one thing Bernard, you have to be out in front. There is valueable points to capture today. Now let's go."
Bernard followed the team tactic to a tea - as he let Gogl mark the Besolti who attempted to break away. Then when Serry went off the front, Bernard followed, and got a free tow to the front.
Up the first of the four catorgirzed, Passo della Consuma, Gogl set the pace in the group with Bernard in his wheel. Todays breakaway showed who was actively going for the Classificazione della Montagna. As it was Bernard, Serry and Besolti went away from the break away near the top. Bernard crossed the line first.
Over the top, the group of six was now a trio. The group consisted of Bernard, Serry and Besolti. At the fot of the climb to Passo della Calla, Bernard started pacing.
The fight was on yet again, and Bernard looked strong yet again. He crossed the line first with ease.
Back in the peleton, disaster struck, as 103 riders either went down or got hinderd by the crash on the descend from Passo del Carnaio.
The race goes on, as the break now was on the move up Passo del Carnaio. With the group of 114 still chasing to get back in the peleton - the advantage had grown to 3'09"
Over the top of Passo del Carnaio, Bernard was first over again - he now leads to KOM competition.
Bernard then went of on his own after the descend from Passao Del Carnaio - With only one categorised climb left - Monte Fumaiolo. Could he hold on?
Then, over Monte Fumaiolo, Bernard had buildt a gap of 3'00". With a long descend down to Bagno di Romagna, it looked good for the frenchman.
On the other half of the field, Nizzolo got dropped up Monte Fumaiolo. He will have to wait another day to get yet another stage win.
There was nothing that could be done with Bernard today, the peleton slowed significantly down after the last climb. As nobody felt the need to try something.
Bernard takes the stage and overtakes Yates and Dumoulin for the lead in the Classificazione della Montagna.
Back in the peleton the pace was now high, as the sprint for honours was on. Landa sat perfectly on the wheel of Pozzovivo.
Landa takes the sprint in the peleton, as the more pure sprinters like Edvald Boasson Hagen and Colbrelli had nothing left to fight with.
A great day for Trek - Segafredo, they now have four stage wins and leads two classifications as the race enters race day tweelve tomorrow.
"Alright gentleman, another day another chance to do something. This will be a bunch sprint, and we will make sure of it. Nizzolo told me earlier that he is feeling great, and we need to get some valueable points. Before we ride to the start, let me go over the final of the stage.
The final kilometres to Reggio Emilia are on wide and well-surfaced roads, with roundabouts, traffic dividers, pedestrian islands and speed being the main obstacles. The home straight is 350-m long, on 7-m wide asphalt road."
We are now deep into the second week, and as we saw yesterday, a break could go all the way. After the stage winner, Bernard, won from the breakaway - 16 riders tried their luck as the flagged dropped in Forlì.
Although the stage is considered to be a sure thing for the sprinters, the stage features two uncomplicated climbs in the first part. Colla di Casaglia and Valico Appenninico, both awarding KOM points. Over the top of Colla di Casaglia Breschel was the first man over.
At the fot of the climb to Valico Appenninico, the break was still kept on a leash by the teams of the better sprinters like Orica and Quickstep.
Over the top, Wackermann was the first over. And that concluded the hard part of the day, as the arrival into Reggio Emilia is easy on paper.
1'31" the gap was when the peleton decided to make sure nobody out front would have a chance. The pace was high, and the battle for posistion in the front was on.
Then disaster struck the Giro, yet again. A battle for posistion in the front of the peleton ended in a mass crash. The leader of the KOM competition, Julian Bernard alongside the 8th man overall Diego Ulissi went down. Diego Ulissi however, would not get back up.
After the crash, a lot of contenders for the stage was now missing from the front group. Being in the last part of the race, nobody let their fot of the throtle.
44' seconds between the breakaway riders and the now 32 man strong peleton led by Quickstep.
The breakaway caved, and the battle between Trek, Quickstep and Scott was all in effect. Three leadout trains batteling for dominance.
With the finish line in sight, and sprinters launching for the line - it looked dead even, nobody gave an inch.
The man with momentum and the purple jersey on his shoulders, Giacomo Nizzolo, took it on the line in front of Gaviria and claimed his fourth stage win in this years edition.
Nizzolo extendended his lead, as we saw Ulissi leaving the Giro in a car. A drama filled stage for sure.
"Who is ready for another sprint? Let's get some energy gentleman. It's our day today - now let's go over the stage, and hit the road with some focus!
The route is completely flat, and passes through the entire Po Valley. The stage finale, past Casteggio, follows the traditional Milan-Sanremo route. After leaving Reggio Emilia, the route first heads for Cavriago, and then goes back onto the ss. 9 “Via Emilia” leading to Piacenza following a straight course. Past Piacenza, the route takes the former Statale Padana Inferiore all the way to the finish, passing through several cities that have been featured in many Giro stages, and in the Milan-Sanremo finale. Arrival in Tortona, as the Giro did in 1989. The final kilometres are essentially straight, with just a few roundabouts along the route. There is one last bend on a roundabout approx. 500 m before the finish. The home straight is 450 m long, on 7.5-m wide asphalt road."
A group of hopefuls tried their luck as the race got under way, amongst them was Malori from Movistar.
After the last intermidiate sprint in Broni, the gap had been reduced as the teams of the main contenders for the stage win had kept them on a leash the entire day.
Then the Trek - Segafredo squad hit the front of the pack, as they wanted to make sure the breakaway was caught in good time before the finish.
With about 9 KM left, the breakaway was caught - and the fight for dominance in the front was on. Suprisingly, the wind had gotten strong. And it was a headwind, making it hard to keep the pace high in front.
As the peleton could see the finish line, Gilbert launched his lead out for Gaviria, and caught the others off guard. And the duo got a gap.
Fernando Gaviria had no problem sprinting to the line, as he had no competition. The Quickstep rider even had time to celebrate before he rolled over the line, as Nizzolo threw his bike over the line, to claim second place and 20 points.
A transport stage without much drama, ending in a bunch sprint. Gaviria dominating the others, as the GC riders look towards the summit finish tomorrow.
Have to say i haven't commented at all up to now but that will change as the story looks really great and well written, especially liking the ''Morning Meeting'' section
sutty68 wrote:
Have to say i haven't commented at all up to now but that will change as the story looks really great and well written, especially liking the ''Morning Meeting'' section
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
This stage is very short and clearly divided into two parts: the route is fast-running and perfectly flat for 120 km, across the Po Valley; then comes an 11-km climb, with gradients over 7% and peaks topping out at 13% a few kilometres before the finish. Oropa will be this year's Montagna Pantani. After leaving Castellania, the route covers an 8 km transfer towards the actual start, then cuts across Vercelli and the surrounding plain. The final 11-km stretch, climbing all the way to the sanctuary (five times arrival and KOM), begins just past Biella. The final climb is 11-km long. The gradient is low in the first part, up to Favaro. The climb reaches its steepest gradient (around 13%) across the porphyry-paved center of Favaro, and then continues with several bends and a gradient around 9%, up to the 130-m long home stretch, on 6.5-m wide, porphyry-paved road.
This means one thing, free roles all around. Except for you Eugenio, your job will be to stay with Nizzolo. I want to see some of you in the breakaway today. Bernard, stick witht the main group as long as you can, maybe it will be some points to capture. If that's not possible, lay off and save energy.
That's all, enjoy the day guys!"
A rather large group of riders broke free at the start in Castellania, 16 to be exact. Amongst them was Michael Gogl, Alessandro De Marchi, Nelson Oliveira, Enrico Barbin and Laurens De Plus.
The first 120 KM of the stage was rather lamentably, as Orica and Sunweb kept the pace.
At the foot of Oropa, Nelson Oliveira launched an attack and right on his whell was Laurens De Plus and Alessandro De Marchi.
It did not take long before another attack was launched, as De Marchi wanted to try it alone - and went for it.
As De Marchi attacked a bit further up the climb, things started to happen in the main group aswell. Domenico Pozzovivo attacked hard at the start of Oropa, and got a gap quickly as none of the favourites responded.
It now looked like the morning breakaway would ride for the stage win, and the GC favourites would battle it out behind.
That must have been the feeling Gogl had, as he tried to bridge the gap up to De Marchi.
Nibali rode of the front of the peleton, trying to catch up to Pozzovivo. He had a lot of time to make up, and not many chances to do so, the situation forced his hand. Rigoberto Uran felt the same way, as he jumped the wheel.
As the "Shark of the Strait" was wheeling and dealing behind, Gogl had now managed to bridge to gap to De Marchi as the duo was inching ever closer to the summit.
After all the attacks, things had been shaken' not sturred. Riders where dropping like flies of the back, as Nibali and Uran was clinging to a small gap. Pozzovivo was still further up the road, he was on fire.
At the summit, Gogl tried his best to out smart De Marchi, but without any luck. Alessandro De Marchi was the strongest, as he claims the stage.
2'47" later, the maglia rosa rolled over the line, only loosing time to Pozzovivo. The defences held up.
Tom Dumoulin is looking strong, could he hold on to the jersey all the way until Milan?
"Gooooooood moooooorning! Can you smell it? I bet you can, a rest day is close. But, listen up, tomorrow we rest - today we attack! I want you Bernard, in the break. A perfect stage to get some more points. Let's go over the stage before we ride towards the startline.
The stage starts in Valdengo as it did in 2014. The route covers 150 km on perfectly flat roads with the typical obstacles of all urban areas (i.e. roundabouts, traffic dividers, etc). Past Zogno, the route takes in two categorised climbs: Miragolo San Salvatore, wich is still an unprecedented KOM and of course Selvino, here the last KOM was Tony Rominger in 1995. This should give some motivation Julian, bring out your inner Rominger. After Selvino, there is a long descent with a few hairpins in-between, then, a further 9 km lead to the upper city, and all the way to the finish line. Over the final kilometres, the route runs across the upper city (Bergamo Alta), climbing up to reach Porta Garibaldi and then Largo Aperto (covering 200 metres on pebble paving). In the first sector, gradients never fall below 10% (with a maximum of 12%). With 1,800 m to the finish, a sharp bend and a sector on narrowed roadway lead through Porta Sant’Agostino. The road takes a wide bend to the left after the flamme rouge, leading to the finish line. The home stretch (800 m long, on 7.5-m wide asphalt road) runs initially downwards and levels out afterwards.
This one should suit us perfectly, if we can't get into the breakaway. We will have Nizzolo for the finish - as long as he or Stuyven feels fresh."
Like every stage so far in this Giro, a break went early, and today was no different. The KOM leader, Julian Bernard, had snuk his way into this one aswell. One last effort before the rest day tomorrow.
Team Sunweb did their job behind the breakaway, protecting the leaders jersey of Tom Domoulin. Cannondale and Quickstep helpt keeping the pace up.
At the foot of the climb over Miragolo San Salvatore, the break only had 1'17", and the fight for KOM points started earlier then normal.
Over the top, Julian Bernard had put a distance between himself and the other, riding hard, as the climb to Selvino came right after
As the hairpins in the beginning of Selvino came along, Bernard was still riding solo outfront with a trio chasing him.
Over the top of Selvino, Bernard claimed maximum points and still had a sizeable gap. He had real shot at taking his second stage win of this years Giro.
As the main group went over the top of Selvino, the main favourites had no more domestiques left. Who would expand the energy to pull back the frenchman in front?
After a rather slow descend by the peleton, Nibali got help as Izagirre managed to come back to the group. He was now trying his best to give his captain a shot at the stage win.
A little bit further back, a group of riders went down. It looked at first sight like everybody was ok. But when the dust cleared, three riders was still rolling on the ground in pain.
Over the final kilometres, the route runs across the upper city (Bergamo Alta), climbing up to reach Porta Garibaldi and then Largo Aperto covering 200 metres on pebble paving. Bernard looked to be a sure winner of the stage, as the group behind could not agree on who should do the work.
Over the top and towards the finishline, Bernard had time to take in the cheers of the impressive number of attendances.
Bernard spent the last km waving and celebrating. The joy of riding solo to the line in a grand tour. Amazing.
In the group behind, sprinters like Nizzolo, Ewan and Colbrelli was still present and the fight for points was on. Nizzolo drew the longest straw and took 20 points. A 1-2 for Trek - Segafredo
A rest day in Rovetta awaits the riders, as the stage from Rovetta to Bormio looms lagre. The stage has three major climbs over 222 km's. Fireworks awaits us!
"Good morning gentleman, considering it was a hard day yesterday and a hard day tomorrow, we will do about three hours on the bike today. With some sprints on top of that, we need to stay ready for tomorrow.
After a meal and some rest, it's media time. So keep your cool in front of the reporters. That's about it, let's go out and enjoy ourselfs today"
Overheard on the ride
"I overheard Elli say he snapped his hip. That's serious for sure. Do you think he will get the same treatment as Alberto?"
"I guess somebody will do a 100 km attack at some point, i mean, risk it for the biscuit."
"The bonus money will be awesome this year - im glad to be here!"
The same as before the Giro, please write questions for the squad. I'll pick the best ones and use them in the Press Conference. This one will stay open for a good while, so we can get some questions.
Daniel Martin
Sérgio Luis Henao
Diego Ulissi
Philippe Gilbert
Simon Yates
Tom Dumoulin
Ilnur Zakarin
Ion Izagirre
Thibaut Pinot
Caleb Ewan
Jakub Mareczko
Bahrain - Merida
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Nikias Arndt
Michael Albasini
Tejay Van Garderen
Vasil Kiryienka
Gregor Mühlberger
Matti Breschel
Nelson Oliveira
Ignatas Konovalovas
