Two scares in Foligno
16 May 2014

Giro d'Italia (st. 7)

Ventoso crashes with no major injuries on Giro stage 7 finale; Nairo Quintana stays safe within bunch's time after 23-second split caused by the incident

What was expected to be a recovery day in the Giro d’Italia, between chaos of yesterday’s ride towards Montecassino and the two mountainous stages in the weekend, threw itself into turmoil for Movistar Team twice at the end of its 211km journey from Frosinone to Foligno. The telephone squad was focused on healing the injuries by the tremendous crash a day prior -thus far from the sprint contest, which saw Bouhanni (FDJ) claiming his second success of the week-, specially those from Gorka Izagirre and a clearly recovered Andrey Amador at the helm of the Blue train. Still, there was some fright waiting for them with 3k from the finish line, where Fran Ventoso suffered a bad crash.

The Spaniard, rolled up against himself on the ground for some moments, was quickly assisted and got back on his feet in few seconds, later covering on his bike the flat section to the finish. No major consequences are overseen from the incident, apart from some wounds in his left side. In turn, the crash caused a split into the bunch, whose first sixty units left a second group 23″ behind, with Nairo Quintana within those. The situation was reverted by the jury and the Blue squad’s leader will start tomorrow’s fight into the same position he finished yesterday: 11th overall, 2’08” behind Michael Matthews (OGE).

Fireworks are very much likely tomorrow on the first Appennines stage. The finish in Montecopiolo (Cat-1) will be preceeded by the Cippo di Carpegna (Cat-1), with several kilometers over 10% gradient, and the Villaggio del Lago (Cat-2), right before the finishing climb for a total 18km ascent with slopes up to 13%.