Giro d'Italia (st. 9)
Costa Rica legend shines in rainy Chianti TT, just like in Apeldoorn's opening prologue, and comes back into third place in the 'Corsa Rosa'. Valverde hit by bad weather as all favourites, still remains within GC fight (6th); 2" behind Nibali (AST, 5th), 23" ahead of Mikel Landa (SKY, 8th)
Neither rain nor pressure against some of the World Tour's best specialists ended Andrey Amador's (Movistar Team) will to shine on the trascendental stage nine of the 2016 Giro d'Italia, 40.5km between and Radda and Greve in Chianti. Just with the same self-assurance and elegance he showed on Apeldoorn's opening time trial, the man from Costa Rica gained ten places overall to make his country and squad proud and get back to third overall in the ‘Corsa Rosa’.
It wasn't an easy day for the squad directed by Chente and Jaimerena, which had all 'six' senses on over the slippery course, which caused lots of crashes -including three different problems for Russia's Ilnur Zakarin (KAT), down to 11th today-. The circumstance makes the Blues feel more than satisfied, as their block got through such a scenario all safe and sound.
In turn, Alejando Valverde, now 6th in the GC, remains fully in contenton for the ‘maglia rosa’ as he sits only 2” behind Nibali (AST, 5th) and 23" ahead of Mikel Landa (SKY, 8th). The standings stay tight and keep the telephone squad's leader happy before the second rest day in Campi Bisenzio, Monday, prelude to another rmountainous day to Sestola.
Brambilla (EQS) remains in pink as Slovenia's Primoz Roglic (TLJ), tantalizingly close to success in the opening TT, claimed the day's honours.