Giro de Italia (st. 3)

Valls (24th), solid and focused into fast final section to Eilat, finishes as best Movistar Team rider in another bunch sprint before travelling to Sicily on Monday. Betancur up to 10th overall, 29" behind Rohan Dennis (BMC).

Elia Viviani (QST) added a second victory to his success on Saturday as he won the final of three stages of the Italia 2018 Giro d’Italia in Israel, a marathon route (229km) from Be’er Sheva to Eilat, covered in barely five hours because of the strong tailwind blowing for most of the southbound route through the Negev desert.

The Movistar Team covered with no major setbacks the day, a calm ride in the early stages which later on turned frantic because of the crosswinds when approaching the line. Several splits formed, with only three of the Blues being affected: Dayer Quintana, Antonio Pedrero and Eduardo Sepúlveda, the Argentinian suffering from stomach problems yet able to complete the stage.

Nearer to the top end of the results list were the other five Movistar Team riders, including Rafa Valls (24th), really focused and near the front, and Carlos Betancur, who progressed through the field in the run-in to the finish to get into the first ten overall: 10th, still 29″ behind Rohan Dennis (BMC). The Giro convoy will fly back to Italy (Catania) to continue racing in Sicily from Tuesday.

Picture (c): BettiniPhoto.net