The queen stage in the Giro d’Italia did not give much battle among the favorites on Friday. Geraint Thomas withstood a late attack from Primoz Roglic and kept the pink jersey. Refugee Santiago Buitrago won the stage and referred Derek Gee to his fourth second place.
Much was expected of the tough nineteenth Giro stage through the Dolomites, but the top favorites once again kept their powder dry for a long time. Roglic placed his attack with the steep final kilometer in sight. Rosette wearer Thomas easily answered the acceleration of the Slovenian from Jumbo-Visma. João Almeida had to pass.
In the last hundreds of meters, Thomas even seemed to drive away from his closest attacker, but Roglic still had some petrol in the tank. With a supreme effort, he gained three seconds back on the British leader of INEOS Grenadiers. Almeida conceded twenty counts to Thomas.
Then day winner Buitrago had already finished. The Colombian fought a fascinating battle with Gee on the final climb to Le Tre Cime di Lavaredo. After three second places in this Giro, the Canadian taste maker finally seemed to have won, but had to admit his superior in Buitrago. Just like last year, the 23-year-old Bahrain Victorious rider won a stage in the Italian cycling round.
The Giro will be decided on Saturday with a tough climb time trial to Monte Lussari. If Thomas manages to maintain his lead over Roglic (+0.26) and Almeida (+0.59) there, he can add the Giro d’Italia of 2023 to his honors list after the 2018 Tour de France.
Again little spectacle with favorites
It is now becoming the story of this Giro d’Italia. The viewers are hardly treated to a battle with the favorites for the overall victory. The queen stage from Longarone to Le Tre Cime di Lavaredo over five Dolomite giants was no exception.
Fifteen escapees received the blessing of the peloton. Gee seemed to have the strongest legs in this leading group. The Canadian Giro revelation was in the lead for almost the entire final climb and finally seemed to win, but that was without Buitrago. The Colombian went on and on. Gee finished second 51 seconds behind.
Behind them, helpers Laurens De Plus and Thymen Arensman kept the pace high in the service of Thomas. Almeida accelerated as the first of the favourites, but had to pay for it when Roglic placed his attack. Only Thomas could follow. Arensman meanwhile drove to the finish at his own pace and rose to seventh place in the standings.
Thomas and Roglic leapfrogged in the final kilometre, after which the Slovenian turned out to have the best final shot. He caught Thomas by three seconds, but the question is whether that is enough to take the pink jersey from him in Saturday’s time trial.
Top ten stage result
- 1. Santiago Buitrago
- 2. Derek Gee +0.51
- 3. Magnus Cort +1.46
- 4. Primoz Roglic zt
- 5. Geraint Thomas +1.49
- 6. João Almeida +2.09
- 7. Damiano Caruso st
- 8. Thymen Arensman zt
- 9. Thibaut Pinot +2.16
- 10. Einer Rubio +2.26
Top ten ranking
- 1. Geraint Thomas
- 2. Primoz Roglic +0.26
- 3. Joao Almeida +0.59
- 4. Damiano Caruso +4.11
- 5.Eddie Dunbar +4.53
- 6. Thibaut Pinot +5.10
- 7. Thymen Arensman +5.13
- 8. Lennard Kamna +5.54
- 9.Andreas Leknessund +6.08
- 10. Laurens De Plus +7.30
