Cycling: Tao Geoghegan Hart has won the hilltop finish on Stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia. The Brit prevailed in front of the Sunweb duo Wilco Kelderman and Jai Hindley. The German team took command early on and dominated the race. However, Joao Almeida was able to just about defend his overall lead. Austria's Patrick Konrad was sixth today.
Mountain arrival in Piancavallo
Before the rest day on Monday, the pros had to climb properly again today at the Giro d'Italia. After the start in Rivolto, there is a distance of 185 kilometers to be covered before reaching the top of the mountain in Piancavallo. Here has Marco Pantani laid the foundation for his Giro victory in 1998. A worthy successor to the pirate, who died much too early, is therefore being sought. Eleven breakaways who wouldn't stand a chance if they waited until the end have formed a breakaway.
11 men in the breakaway of the day
- Thomas De Gendt (Lotto – Soudal)
- Matthew Holmes (Lotto-Soudal)
- Sergio Samitier (Movistar)
- Davide Villella (Movistar)
- Andrea Vendrame (AG2R La Mondiale)
- Luca Chirico (Androni Giocattoli – Sidermec)
- Manuele Boaro (Astana)
- Mark Padun (Bahrain-McLaren)
- Daniel Navarro (Israel Start-Up Nation)
- Rohan Dennis (Ineos)
- Giovanni Visconti (Vini Zabu – KTM)
Sunweb shows strength
Rohan Dennis turned out to be the strongest outlier. But of course the Australians don't like the mountains. Since the Sunweb team kept up the pace in the main field and pushed again on the final climb, the lead of the former time trial world champion was not enough. A top job for his captain wilco kelderman (Sunweb) also made the German Nico Denz (Sunweb). With 9,5 kilometers to go, the black and white train shifted up a gear. With three men in the lead, they completely blew up the favorites group. Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) had to be torn as well as bilbao hair (Bahrain-McLaren), Dominic Pozzo alive (NTT) and Vincenzo Nibali (Trek – Segafredo). Only Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos) Rafal Mayka (Bora – hansgrohe), leaders Joao almeida (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) and his teammate Fausto Masnada (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) could still follow the Sunweb-3-Express.
Tao Geoghegan Hart wins ahead of Sunweb duo
Nachdem Chris Hamilton (Sunweb) went out of the lead, bet Jay Hindley (Sunweb) one more thing. Now he was together with captain wilco kelderman (Sunweb) and Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos) alone. Joao Almeida (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) lost the rear wheel but was able to keep his pace and keep the gap reasonably within limits. This means that the Portuguese will also be at the start in the pink jersey tomorrow. The German team Sunweb could not get the deserved stage win. Tao Geoghegan Hart drove past the duo a few meters before the finish line and won wilco kelderman and Jai Hindley. The fight for the overall ranking is now more exciting than before tomorrow's second rest day. Only 15 seconds separate the first two.
"It's a coming-of-age for the man from east London!"
It's Tao Geoghegan Hart's maiden stage win at a Grand Tour and a fifth at the 2020 Giro d'Italia for @INEOSGrenadiers 🖐 pic.twitter.com/zSgxyPnfCb
- Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) October 18, 2020