The Fight For Pink - Team Sunweb Recap of Stages 1-3
Jerusalem, 4 May 2018
Stage 1 of the 2018 Giro d'Italia is underway, and it would be a battle of the best TT riders in the world on the streets of Jerusalem. Dumoulin (SUN), Dennis (BMC) and Martin (TKA) all had a shout of taking the first Maglia Rosa of the year, whilst the GC men will be wanting to limit any early losses in Israel.
Surprisingly, it was Luis Leon Sanchez (AST) who set the fastest time early in the day, and a number of TT specialist struggled to get the better of him. Soon though, the times we starting to tumble. Rohan Dennis (BMC) quickly showed his prowess against the clock, taking 10" off Sanchez's time, and he could not be bettered by Simon Yates (MTS) or Tony Martin (TKA).
However, there was one man who would completely demolish the time of Dennis, and it would be Chris Froome (SKY), who was proving he was in some great form ahead of the Giro. 12" quicker than the Aussie, he would be tough to beat... and there was only 1 man left on course.
Tom Dumoulin had been quickest at the halfway checkpoint, but it was only by 2" to Froome... at the end of the course he would be + 16 on the Brit and + 4 on Dennis. He would have to settle for 3rd!
Stage 1 Result
1
Chris Froome
Team Sky
13'25
2
Rohan Dennis
BMC Racing Team
+ 12
3
Tom Dumoulin
Team Sunweb
+ 16
Tel Aviv, 5 May 2018
Stage 2 and the Giro D'Italia heads out in the Israeli country on a flat stage from Haifa to Tel Aviv. A day for the sprinters, we would be expecting a mass sprint at the finish today.
The day's break saw 4 riders heading up the road, with Marco Frapporti (AND), Alessandro Tonelli (BRD), Jaco Venter (DDD) and local hero Guy Niv (ICA) all present. They were allowed a maximum of 7'38 gap by the peleton before the sprinter's team decided to pull them back.
With 7k to go, all was back together and we were set up for a bunch sprint. QuickStep Floors took control of the lead outs from 3km to go, but as Fabio Sabatini hit the front for Elia Viviani, Sam Bennett (BOH) came from a long way back to take a great win, ahead of Andrea Guardini (BRD) and Niccolo Bonifazio (TBM).
Maglia Rosa of Chris Froome would come home with the main peleton, however it would be a bad day for Rohan Dennis, losing +1'41 and with 2nd place on GC. Dumoulin would be up to 2nd, ahead of Tony Martin.
Stage 2 Result
1
Sam Bennett
BORA - hansgrohe
3h51'57
2
Andrea Guardini
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
3
Niccolo Bonifazio
Bahrain - Merida
s.t.
Eilat, 6 May 2018
The third and final day in Israel, and the peleton will be heading from Be'er Sheva to Eilat. Another flat day ahead, so will we be seeing a repeat of yesterday's sprint? Or will the break this time stay away in the desert?
A break of 6 would eventually form shortly after the 0km flag drop in Be'er Sheva, with Maxim Belkov (TKA), Guy Sagiv (ICA), Mirco Maestri, Simone Andreetta (both BRD), Domen Novak (TBM) and Markel Irizar (TFS) all hoping their chances against the rest of the peleton.
As with Stage 2 though, they would be allowed around 7'34" up the road, beforethe pace setting came from behind and they were pulled back with 11km to go. QuickStep again took control of the pace approaching the finish, but sadly it was not to be for Vivani again! Boxed in against the barriers, he could only watch as Niccolo Bonifazio (TBM) took the win ahead of Andrea Guardini (BRD) and Manuel Belletti (AND).
The GC men finished all together, so no changes in those standings. Froome holds onto the Maglia Rosa by 16" to Dumoulin and Martin (+ 18).
A shame to lose 16 seconds already to Froome in the prologue, but no need for panic stations yet
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
The Fight For Pink - Team Sunweb Recap of Stage 4-6
Caltagirone, 8 May 2018
The Giro d'Italia hits Italy and the Isle of Sicily for Stage 4, as a route for the puncheurs awaits the peleton. The GC men will most likely want to be at the front come the end but this could also been a stage for a break to stay clear.
It was the largest break of the Giro so far, with 11 riders heading up the road. Mountains leader Marco Frapporti was part of the group, extending his lead to 3 points in the standings.
Despite the numbers, it would only be a matter of time before they were brought back to the main group and with 26km still remaining, it would be one of the pre-stage favourites that would be coming to the front for the final short climb to the end.
As the final kilometre approached, Enrico Battaglin (LTJ) and Diego Ulissi (UAE) attacked, with UAE-Emirates man just holding on to take the win. Battaglin was 2nd, with Thibault Pinot (FDJ) taking some valuable bonus seconds in 3rd.
The rest of GC men came home in the same time as the stage winner, so no chances in the standings.
Stage 4 Result
1
Diego Ulissi
UAE Team Emirates
4h59'16
2
Enrico Battaglin
Team Lotto NL - Jumbo
s.t.
3
Thibaut Pinot
Groupama - FDJ
s.t.
Santa Ninfa, 9 May 2018
Stage 5 of the Giro, and much of the same for the peleton. Rolling hills lay ahead, and another day for the puncheurs! Will we see the same result as yesterday, or will it be 5th time lucky for the day's breakaway hopefuls?
After what was a frantic start to the stage, a break of 6 disappeared up the road, and for once we did not see Marco Frapporti joining them in the search for more KoM points. Eduardo Sepulveda (MOV) and Enrico Barbin (BRD) were the bigger names in the group, and a threat to taking the stage win if it went all the way.
The biggest talking point from the stage though was the crash which took down a large proportion of peleton. Around 68 riders either came down or where held up by the crash, with Carlos Betancur (MOV), Michael Woods (EFD), KoM leader Marco Frapporti (AND) and Maglia Ciclamino wearer Niccolo Bonifazio (TBM) all coming down hard and having to abandon the race, along with 12 others. It is a shame for all involved, but especially for those wearing the leader's jerseys.
Luckily for Dumoulin, there was no one from Sunweb heavily affected by it all.
Once the peleton had settled down, the pace slowly ramped up again and the catch was made with 16km to go. Approaching the finish, it was Mitchelton-Scott who took control in lead out for Simon Yates. However, it would be his team-mate Estaban Chaves who takes the victory, ahead of Tim Wellens (LTS) and a very impressive Max Schachmann (QST) in 3rd
GC remained as is, as they all come home together in the same time as Chaves.
Stage 5 Result
1
Esteban Chaves
Michelton - Scott
3h47'42
2
Tim Wellens
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
3
Maximilian Schachmann
Quick-Step Floors
s.t.
Mt. Etna, 10 May 2018
The first big day on this year's Giro d'Italia, and the slopes of Mount Etna await the peleton. No doubt we will see the GC men come to the front as we approach the line, but who will be the ones losing time today?
A group of 11 riders went up the road shortly after the flag drop, with Chris Hamilton represented for Sunweb. Also present was Dayer Quintana and Eduardo Sepulveda (both MOV), Ben O'Connor (DDD), Hugh Carthy (EFD) just to name a few.
It would be a day for the break, as the peleton behind seemed more occupied with each other rather those up the road. As Ben O'Connor made his winning attack with 4km to go on the slopes of Mt. Etna, the GC men were battling it out further down the climb. Louis Meinjtes (DDD) was the first to make a move, but it was only when Froome (SKY) and Pinot (FDJ) attacked that Miguel Angel Lopez (AST) and Dumoulin decided to follow.
Dumoulin would kick again with 3.5km to and soon only Yates (MTS), Froome and Pinot could follow him up the climb. At the Lantern Rouge, Pinot cracked, shortly followed up Yates with 600m to go. And then... Froome cracked trying to follow the last acceleration to the finish by Dumoulin. The gap kept growing with 100m to go, and the time on the line was a difference of just 15 second! Tom was just 1" off the Maglia Rosa and he had shown all of his rivals at the first opportunity what he has in his legs!
Nice show of strength there. Froome may be frightened now.
Nice to see Hamilton joining a break, even though it went to nothing (?) for him. As the Aussie fan I am, I do have to celebrate this stage win for O'Connor though
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
tsmoha wrote:
Nice show of strength there. Froome may be frightened now.
Nice to see Hamilton joining a break, even though it went to nothing (?) for him. As the Aussie fan I am, I do have to celebrate this stage win for O'Connor though
Hamilton came in handy with about 5km to go when Dumoulin lost domestiques and he was nice up the road to help out. Came home on the stage in 34th place with the likes of Schachmann and Kreuziger. The show of strength was needed I think. Sky did very little pulling all day
Tamijo wrote:
Great day, small gaps as we see them in modern cycling, but getting very very close.
Getting close but I didn't expect the gap to be that large in all fairness. Less than 10" gap on the stage would have been more like what was on the screen
The Fight For Pink - Team Sunweb Recap of Stages 7-9
Praia a Mare, 11 May 2018
Finally stage for the sprinters, and the first one since we left Israel. A route down the course as the Giro d'Italia hits mainland Italy. Expected the usual suspects at the front, so keep an eye on Quickstep, Bora-Hansgrohe and Wilier Triestina puling the peleton along hard to make sure it ends in a bunch sprint.
A group of 8 riders thought they would try their chances off the front of the main grou, and gaining around 12'43" on the peleton before the reel-in started. As expected, it would be Quickstep and Bora controlling everything, making sure all was back and all together with 15km remaining.
The lead-outs formed on the fast run into the finish, but we would witness one of the closest finishes of the Giro so far, if not in it's entire history, as a total of 7 riders were separated by less than a bike length!
Elia Vivani would be the best at the bike thrown, taking the win ahead of Manue Belletti and Jakub Mareczko. 4th place for Sam Bennett would be enough to retake the lead in the Points Classification.
GC come home together, so 1" remains the lead for Froome.
Stage 7 Results
1
Elia Viviani
Quick-Step Floors
3h43'16
2
Manuel Belletti
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
s.t.
3
Jakub Mareczko
Wilier Triestina - Selle Italia
s.t.
Montevergine di Mercogliano, 12 May 2018
The first of two Mountain Top Finishes in a row, as the peleton will take the the climb to Montevergine di Mercogliano. 17km in length, with maximum ramps of 10%, will be see Tom Dumoulin take the lead from Chris Froome or will it be status quo on the climb with so many stages still to go?
It was another day for the breakaway, as the GC concentrated on each other on the climb to the finish today. A group of 33 riders initially attacked the race from the flag drop, with Alexandre Geniez (ALM), Tim Wellens (LTS), Alessandro De Marchi (BMC) and Robert Gesink (TLJ) some of the bigger names present.
The GC would be blown further open, as only the Top 4 wouldbe able to follow each others wheels. Thibault Pinot (FDJ) went first, followed by moves from Simon Yates (MTS) and Tom Dumoulin. In the end, only Simon Yates would crack appraoching the line, losing 22" to Froome and Dumoulin on GC.
The final stage for a much needed rest day for the peleton, but it will not be an easy day on the legs, as a 2nd Mountain Top Finish in as many days awaits the riders.
The climb to Gran Sasso d'Italia goes up in steps, but that will not mean it will be easy. In total, it is 26km in length with a majority of the steeper ramps of 13% coming in the last 4km.
Oh my! What a stage to end the first week on Italian soil. A breakaway win, a shake up on the GC and a new man in Pink!
As they approached the final climb, we finally saw Team Sky controlling the peleton, with Groupama-FDJ adding their assistance. However we would have to wait until the final 4km before the fireworks started...
On a short downhill into the steeper ramps, Tom Dumoulin hit the front, accelerating when the climb kicked again. A 10 metre gap soon became 20 metres, then 50 metres! There was no stopping him!
He began catching the remains of the breakaway and suddenly he was looking at bonus seconds on the line coming into play as well. Froome had reacted behind, spinning his way up the climb, closing the gap with every pedal stroke. Pinot and Yates were nowhere to be seen, so it was clear who the two strongest were.
Ben O'Connor would take his 2nd victory of the Giro d'Italia, finishing strongly to distance Alexandre Geniez in the final kilometre for the win. Geniez would be caught by Dumoulin on the line, as the Sunweb rider took what would be a valuable 2nd place. Chris Froome was coming up fast, but just not fast enough. He would be given the same time as Dumoulin but more importantly, Geniez would take 3rd place by half a wheel!
Tom was in Pink, Yates and Pinot had lost further time, and for short while, Froome had looked normal and struggling! Bring on Week 2!
And Tom, of course! 5 seconds ain't much, but another display of strength and the first day in pink. Well played there, even though Froomey came back to finish in the same time as Tom.
Great result on the Etna stage to crack Froome, and even better on Stage 9 to move into the Pink jersey. Dumo is looking strong so far, matching whatever anyone else has been able to do, or better.
