Carapaz stays safe before Zoncolan battle
18 May 2018

Giro d'Italia (st. 13)

Ecuadorian from Movistar Team gets through relatively calm day towards Nerversa -with Viviani (QST) as stage winner-, prelude to the most grueling climb of this year's Giro to start a feared final week.

No setbacks were suffered by Richard Carapaz and his Movistar team-mates during stage 13 of the 2018 Giro d’Italia, held over 180km from Ferrara to Nervesa on Friday with cyclamen jersey holder Elia Viviani (QST) as solid winner. Another ‘maglia’ wearer -Richard staying in white as top under-26 rider overall and best Movistar Team performer- remained calm and near the front of the bunch through the Montello climb (Cat-4), helped out by Dayer Quintana in the finale following solid work from his five other team-mates in the early phase.

5th overall, 1’56” behind Simon Yates (MTS), ‘Richie’ will tackle two huge mountain stages this weekend, with a combined 8,000m vertical gain. Saturday will bring the legendary Monte Zoncolan (Cat-1; 10.1km at 11.5%), with four kilometers in its central section over 15% gradient, plus a difficult approach through the Passo Duron (Cat-2) and three other Cat-3 ascents. Sunday, in turn, will take the race to the Dolommites, over not-so-difficult ascents yet pretty much together: Tre Croci, Sant’Antonio and Costalissoio -all Cat-2- before Sappada’s finish.

Picture (c): BettiniPhoto.net