‘Richie’ again amazing atop Gran Sasso (5th)
13 May 2018

Giro d'Italia (st. 9)

Carapaz within best climbers in Giro: improves GC situation to 6th place, reinforces lead in Maglia Bianca competition before Monday's second rest day.

Ecuadorian climber Richard Carapaz (Movistar Team) doesn’t cease to amaze so far in the 2018 Giro d’Italia with commitment, skills and impressive fitness level. The Carchí native took 5th place on Sunday’s mountain-top finish at the Gran Sasso, end of a very demanding stage nine over 225km and a restless finale through the Cat-1 climbs of Calascio and Imperatore.

‘Richie’ showed again to be a solid competitor at the late phase of the last climb, once AST was able to reduce the 8’30” gap by the day’s break (14 riders) to just one minute and a half, six kilometers before the end. Supported until that point by a consistent Movistar Team, with Pedrero, Sepúlveda and Dayer Quintana covering him in the early stages plus a remarkable Valls, De la Parte and Rubén Fernández on the climbs, Carapaz was able to quickly follow the early moves. ‘Richie’ would end up making part of a selected, seven-man field, with the best climbers in this year’s Giro, with 1km remaining.

Only the impressive final rush from Mitchelton-Scott, with Simon Yates as day’s winner and strengthened leader of the race, made Carapaz suffer, the 24-year-old coming across the line 4″ behind Yates and now sitting 6th overall (+1’20”) and solid Maglia Bianca holder -more than one minute ahead of Miguel Ángel López (AST)-. Carlos Betancur was, in turn, able to stick with the strongest riders on course before the last 2km; finished 15th today (+52″); and becomes 16th in the GC (+2’46”).

The ‘Corsa Rosa’ will now head towards the vicinity of the Adriatic sea to enjoy its second rest day on Monday, prior to resuming racing on Tuesday – in an event which doesn’t stop showing the strongest, most promising side of the Movistar Team.

Picture (c): BettiniPhoto.net