Viviani bounces back!

Elia Viviani (Quick Step Floors) claimed his third stage win at the Giro 101 after the first two in Israel and a few disillusions since. It was an unconventional sprint at Nervesa della Battaglia on the occasion of the tribute paid to the victims of World War I in this northern part of Italy as Marco Coledan (Wilier Triestina) tried to anticipate the bunch gallop. Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) remained focused in the Maglia Rosa ahead of the highly awaited uphill finish to the gruelling Monte Zoncolan.

STATISTICS

• This is the fourth stage win for Elia Viviani at the Giro, only one fewer than his team-mate, Fernando Gaviria, last year. It’s the 1250th stage victory by an Italian rider in the history of the individual stages. Viviani is the first Italian to win three bunch sprints in a single Giro since Daniele Bennati 10 years ago (2008).
• Although some riders commented about this stage to being the easiest so far this year, the 19th average speed of all times was recorded (out of 1761 in-line stages already contested since 1909). The record remains 49.429km/h when Andrea Guardini won stage 17 to Vedelago in 2012.
• It’s the 10th stage podium for Sam Bennett at the Giro: two stage victories, two second places, six third places.

FINAL RESULT
1 – Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) – 180km in 3h56’25”, average speed 45.682km/h
2 – Sam Bennett (Bora – Hansgrohe) st
3 – Danny Van Poppel (Team Lotto NL – Jumbo) st

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Simon Yates (Mitchelton – Scott)
2 – Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) at 47?
3 – Thibaut Pinot (Groupama – FDJ) at 1’04”

Alla the rankings

JERSEYS

• Maglia Rosa (pink), general classification leader, sponsored by Enel – Simon Yates (Mitchelton – Scott)
• Maglia Ciclamino (cyclamen), sprinter classification leader, sponsored by Segafredo – Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors)
• Maglia Azzurra (blue), King of the Mountains classification leader, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Simon Yates (Mitchelton – Scott), worn by Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton – Scott)
• Maglia Bianca (white), young rider general classification leader, sponsored by Eurospin – Richard Carapaz (Movistar Team)

PRESS CONFERENCE
The stage winner, Elia Viviani, said: “There was no need to think too much about yesterday or two days ago when I rode for 200km with [Esteban] Chaves. I’ve had two bad days but it was more important to note what Bennett did in those two days: he was third in Gualdo Tadino and only [Peter] Sagan or [Fernando] Gaviria are able to sprint for 400 metres like he did today. Yesterday I was really empty. I was really cold, I couldn’t do anything. I haven’t done a Grand Tour in two and half years – it might have impacted my performances. Today we rode like in any other sprinters’ stages. Rémi Cavagna pulled all day with Eros Capecchi. The others rode to the finale. Michael Morkov took the role of Fabio Sabatini who had a mechanical. This is my nicest and most emotional victory at the Giro because this morning I was nervous as I didn’t know if my legs would support me or not. I’m glad they did and my lead of 40 points in the Maglia Ciclamino is more comfortable than the 22 that we had yesterday. I’ll have six team-mates again to help me make the time cut tomorrow.”

The Maglia Rosa, Simon Yates, said: “We’ve already done some high mountains in this Giro but, tomorrow, it’s gonna be difficult. I don’t know the Zoncolan, I’ve never reckonned it – I’ve only seen it on TV. I hope to have good legs and, if so, I’ll try something. It’s been a hard race every day, except today – everyone is tired and everyone is talking about the Zoncolan. But if someone goes too deep tomorrow, they might pay the price the day after, which is another very difficult stage. I feel the responsibility of the Maglia Rosa but I came to win the Giro and I feel comfortable in leading the race.”

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