Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo-Visma) is the main beneficiary of the first week of the 102nd Giro d’Italia as he won the two time trials with a significant margin over the other GC favourites. He’s 1’44’’ ahead of Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) who remains the only former winner of the Corsa Rosa in the competition after the abandonment of Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) following his crash on stage 4 to Frascati where Roglic also gained 16’’ over the Sicilian. Simon Yates(Mitchelton-Scott) and Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Pro Team) are 3’46’’ and 4’29’’ down on the Slovenian respectively. They’ll need to make up time in the mountains.
However, the overall leader after nine stages is Valerio Conti (UAE Team Emirates), 1’50’’ ahead of Roglic. The Italian profited from the winning breakaway on stage 6 that saw the victory of his compatriot Fausto Masnada (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec). The other stage winner from long range attacks was Spain’s Pello Bilbao (Astana Pro Team) on stage 7 while Ecuadorian puncheur Richard Carapaz (Movistar Team) powered to victory on the uphill finish to Frascati.
Bunch sprints have been won by Australia’s Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) on stage 8, Colombia’sFernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) after the relegation of Italian national champion Elia Viviani(Deceuninck-Quick Step) on stage 3 and newcomer Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) who imposed himself on stages 2 and 5. In his first Grand Tour, the German national champion is confirming his emergence from the new generation of sprinters. He leads the points competition ahead of Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) who is yet to find success in the Giro d’Italia.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SECOND WEEK
The race resumes on Tuesday 21 with an entirely flat stage through the Po Valley, from Ravenna to Modena. Stage 11 will start in Carpi and end in Novi Ligure with the finish line close to the home where the Campionissimo, Fausto Coppi, lived with Giulia Occhini (the ‘Dama Bianca’). Stage 12 runs from Cuneo to Pinerolo, in recognition of the historic feat of the Campionissimo in the 1949 Giro d’Italia.
On Stage 13 the climbing keeps on coming with three hard KOMs on the route from Pinerolo to Ceresole Reale (Serrù Lake) in Turin province’s Orco Valley. Saturday 25 presents another 5-star stage, starting from Saint-Vincent and finishing in Courmayeur: stage 14 features five KOMs and a total elevation of 4,000m. The Verrayes, Verrogne, Truc d’Arbe (Combes) and Colle San Carlo climbs are faced before the summit finish of Courmayeur. The following day is the Ivrea-Como. Riders will face the finale of the last edition of Il Lombardia: Madonna del Ghisallo, Colma di Sormano and Civiglio before the finish line on the shores of Lake Como. Expect those riders to be thankful that Monday 27 May is the second and final rest day of the Corsa Rosa, in Como.
This morning Mauro Vegni, Director of the Giro, was honored in the Palace of the Republic of San Marino, in the presence of the Regent Captains Nicola Selva and Michele Muratori, of the Ordine Equestre di Sant’Agata, one of the highest honors of the Republic of San Marino. Giro d’Italia Vegni said: “I am moved. The Giro and San Marino are very closely linked. Sunday’s stage, despite the rain, had a clear impact on the Giro GC “.
TOMORROW’S STAGE
Stage 10 – Ravenna-Modena 145km – total elevation 150m
A completely flat stage, across the Po Valley, raced mostly on broad and straight roads. Street furniture will be found in urban areas, along with roundabouts, traffic dividers, speed bumps and the like along the entire route. The finish is virtually straight.
Final kilometres
The final kilometres are played out on broad and mostly straight roads. Over the last 5km, the only bend is 2,200m from the finish. Porphyry stone pavers cover a 450m stretch, from 1,500m out, almost to the red flag. The home straight is 1,500m long, on a 8m wide asphalt road.
TV COVERAGE
Stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia International TV Schedule available here.
