Success on the pedal for Jan Hirt on this 16th stage of the Giro. And what a victory! More than 200 kilometers with 5,250 meters of elevation gain on the menu of the day. Starting in a breakaway with more than 20 runners, the Czech was able to follow the various attacks before going on the offensive himself in the Valico Di Santa Christina. In the lead at the top of this last climb of the day, the rider from the Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert formation then resisted the return of the main favorites, taking all the risks in a winding descent on a wet road surface.
As for the favorites for the general classification, Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) drove his men for a long time before attacking. But the Spaniard failed to get rid of the surprising Jai Hindley (Bora-HANSGROHE), nor the leader Richard Carapaz (Ineos). At the finish, Hindley finished 3rd and gained 4 bonus seconds over Carapaz who finished 4th. Nibali (Astana) took 5th place ahead of Landa 6th. Almeida, 3rd overall, limited the damage (8th in the stage) and finished about ten seconds behind his competitors. No very big changes in the general standings between the 4 main favorites for the final victory, even if Landa showed his limits today.
The first 5 of the stage: 1- Jan Hirt (Intermarché-Wandy-Gobert) in 5h 40′ 45”; 2- Thymen Arensman (DSM) 07”; 3- Jan Hindley (Bora) 1’24”; 4- Richard Carapaz (Ineos) 1’24”; 5- Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) 1’24”.
First overall: (after stage 16): 1 – Richard Carapaz (Ineos) in 68:49:06; 2- Jan Hindley (Bora) 03”; 3- Joao Almeida (UAE) 0’44”; 4- Mikel Landa (Bahrain) 0’59”; Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) 3’40”.
Hostilities will continue on Wednesday. On the program for the 17th stage: 168 km and 3730 meters of difference in altitude between Ponte Di Legno and Lavarone.
