Cycling: The queen stage of the Giro d'Italia has turned the tour upside down. The Ineos and Sunweb teams launched a major attack up to the Stelvio Pass. Joao Almeida lost the pink jersey to Wilco Kelderman. The stage win went to teammate Jai Hindley.
The escapees didn't stand a chance today
Queen's stage at the Giro d'Italia! And it definitely had it all today. At the beginning of the 207-kilometre section from Pinzolo to Laghi di Cancano, a 15-man group broke away from the peloton. However, due to the speed work of the Sunweb and Ineos teams, they were only awarded a lead of just over four minutes. It was clear early on that the top favorites didn't want to give away today's victory to the escapees. Up the Stelvio Pass was personified by Ben O'Connor (NTT) – who fled for the third day in a row – caught up with the last of them. Wasn't there at all today Giovanni Visconti (Vini Zabu – KTM). The runner-up in the mountains classification had to give up the race due to an injury. The mountain jersey sits on the shoulders of Ruben guerreiro (EF) pretty sure now.
Almeida loses the Giro d'Italia on the Stelvio
Up the Stelvio not only the breakaways were shown their limits. Even some of the top favorites had to realize on the first few kilometers of the rock-hard mountain that they couldn't build on their best form today. while leader Joao almeida (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) was isolated early on and finally lost contact himself, some helpers were able to increase the pace for the Sunweb captains. After the work was done, the current balance of power became clearly visible. Also Vincenzo Nibali (Trek - Segafredo), Dominic Pozzo alive (NTT), bilbao hair (Bahrain – McLaren) and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) could no longer follow. Finally, the Ineos duo emerged Rohan Dennis and Tao Geoghegan Hart, as well as the the Sunweb duo wilco kelderman and Jay Hindley as the strongest quartet. The gaps opened up and got bigger and bigger from then on.
Dennis works for Geoghegan Hart
Before the summit of the Stelvio Pass was reached wilco kelderman (Sunweb) at the end of his powers. The Dutchman was no longer able to follow the now leading trio and was pounded on second by second. While Rohan Dennis (Ineos) plowed uphill, downhill and on the level for his captain, just that one got stuck Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos) and Jay Hindley (Sunweb) on its rear wheel. Since the distanced drivers were to lose more and more time on the Dennis Express and Geoghegan Hart and Hindley were only separated by a second in the overall standings, even the intermediate sprint became interesting. In this, the Brit secured himself three seconds ahead of his team-mate Dennis and his Australian opponent, who at least got one second. Meanwhile flew wilco kelderman (Sunweb) further and further back. A group around Joao almeida (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) was more than four minutes behind after the Stelvio.
Hindley with the stage win, Kelderman conquers Rosa
as himself Rohan Dennis at the foot of the final ascent from the guide Tao Geoghegan Hart and Jay Hindley on their own. But the Australian understandably didn't want to take part in the lead work and only stayed at the back wheel of his opponent. Eventually his captain lay wilco kelderman only about a minute and a half back and therefore virtually wore the Maglia Rosa. This has now been replaced by bilbao hair and Jakob Fuglsang caught up and left. Due to the disagreement and understandably the tiredness that had set in, the leading duo slowed down. Some of the distanced drivers came a little closer again, all in front Pelo Bilbao, should be third in the stage. Secured the stage win Jay Hindley near Tao Geoghegan Hart. However, the Maglia Rosa is allowed to be a teammate wilco kelderman slip on. The tour is not yet decided with these tight distances.
Hindley wins stage 18 #Turn #twist2020 #twist103 pic.twitter.com/omJZ6bwdwD
— Jan Willems (@CyclingWiz) October 22, 2020