Giro d'Italia (st. 5)

Movistar Team takes responsibility in the finale to search for chances by Ventoso and Visconti; pile-up at the front of the elite group into final kilometer rules Blues out

A crash in the last turn, just over 1k before the finish, decided the fifth stage of the 2013 Giro d’Italia, a 199-kilometer trek between Cosenza and Matera with a difficult final 25k. The slippery, painted urban roads and the hectic pace into the 50-rider group coming together for the final rush caused a crash that left at the front just two riders: Marco Canola (BAR) and John Degenkolb (ARG), the duo playing a duel ultimately won by the German.
 
The crash caught Giovanni Visconti and Fran Ventoso –the Spaniard did not hit the ground-, the two cards from Movistar Team, who took control of the race in the finale with the aim of taking the big sprinters out of contention. Eros Capecchi and Alex Dowsett, in the beginning, and Pablo Lastras and José Herrada, in the last climb of the day -Montescaglioso (Cat. 4)- picked up the pace on the group -Juanjo Cobo, crashed with no consequences into the last descent, couldn’t help out- to increase their team-mates’ chances, eventually ruined by the crash. Fortunately, the incident brought no consequences for Visconti –“I had fantastic legs today and think I could have contested the sprint, but with this form, I’m sure I’ll have some more chances”-, who gained more points for the KOM ranking and will wear the ‘maglia azzurra’ at least till Friday. Before a difficult day to Pescara, stage six should bring more calmness into the bunch, with 169 flat kilometers between Mola di Bari and Margherita di Savoia. Beñat Intxausti sits comfortably in a privileged 3rd in the GC, still led by Luca Paolini (KAT).

REACTION / Fran Ventoso: “It’s sad to finish the stage this way, but that’s cycling. I’m a bit disappointed because the team worked really well in the finale. We took the effort into the climb with Lastras and Herrada, but the final crash spoiled it all. Visconti took it through the out-side while I entered it by the in-side and could avoid the crash, but when I tried to push again, my chain was off – there was nothing else to do. It was a stage I had on my plans because the finish suited me perfectly, but I’m sure I’ll keep fighting, in every chance until the end of the Giro.”