Giro d'Italia (st. 16)

Blue duo join yet another winning break in the Giro, as Tratnik (TBM) succeeds from 28-rider move. Pedrero remains 13th overall.

/ Today’s route

Following the second rest day, the 2020 Giro resumes with four consecutive stages over 200km -and the one after that, Saturday’s mountain journey before the decisive TT in Milan, will be 198km long-. Tuesday’s route was a 229km trek from Udine to San Daniele del Friuli, with six rated climbs and a three-lap final circuit over the Monte di Ragogna (2.8km at 10%).

/ Weather report

Thoroughly enjoyable conditions if we consider we’re already in late October and in the north of Italy. Partly cloudy skies, temperatures between 10 and 15ºC and a breeze of air.

/ Keys to the race

• Climbing the slopes of the Madonnina del Domm (Cat-2), first rated ascent of the day, a huge break of 28 riders went off the front after 25km, with two riders from the Movistar Team: Sergio Samitier -the best placed rider from the group in the GC, some 20′ behind Almeida (DQT)- and Einer Rubio. Despite Deceuninck initially seemed reluctant to let them go too far, the gap was above 6′ at the top of the second climb of the day, the Monte Spig (Cat-3).

• The gap didn’t stop growing for the group of Rubio and Samitier as they entered the Ragogna circuit, where Tratnik (TBM) took a gap over a small pursuit group the two Blues tried to make it into, in vain. Einer Rubio ultimately sacrified his chances for Sergio Samitier (13th), 3′ back on the day’s winner.

• Despite some late opposition from Ben O’Connor (NTT), who caught him through the final climb of Ragogna, Tratnik won the stage ahead of the Australian, with Enrico Battaglin (TBM) in 3rd. Samitier’s advantage at the finish over the main peloton, nearly 10 minutes, sees him remain in 16th overall -with Pedrero in 13th-, though now around 10′ behind Almeida. The Maglia Rosa slightly increased his slim GC advantage with a late attack, as Antonio finished 11″ behind the Portuguese rider.

/ Upcoming goals

We’ll be tackling another crucial mountain stage on Wednesday, with 203km starting in Grappa and covering four big climbs: Forcella Valbona (Cat-1), the Monte Bondone (Cat-1), the Passo Durone (Cat-3) and the finish up Madonna di Campiglio (Cat-1). All of that, in the eve of the Stelvio, Thursday, and Agnello + Izoard, at Saturday’s mountain showdown.

Cover picture (c): BettiniPhoto