Statement success on the 17th stage: The overall leading Isaac del Toro celebrated its first victory at this year’s Giro d’Italia and expanded its lead. The 21-year-old had previously worked as if his pink jersey was in danger, but then he suddenly made his competition look very old.
For a long time Florian Stork had hoped for a day victory, as on Sunday he failed in his project – this time it was not quite as short as in his second place in second place. In the first third of the 155 kilometers of San Michele All’Adige to Bormio, the driver of the Tudor Pro Caycling team made it into a top group of 40 and kept ahead with seven more professionals until shortly before the end.
Carapaz and Bardet without an opportunity against del Toro
An attack by Del Toro on the short Le Motte, a crunchy almost three kilometer long mountain in the third category, then ensured that Stork and Co. The pink carrier fought for the victory with Richard Carapaz and Romain Bardet and was able to settle something about one kilometer before the finish, at the finish he was four seconds ahead of his pursuers. Simon Yates was fourth with 15 seconds behind.
Due to the outcome of the 17th stage, Carapaz is now the first pink extent in the overall ranking with a gap of 41 seconds. This is followed by Yates, to whom Del Toro now has a cushion of 51 seconds. The Spaniard had shown some weaknesses both the previous day and beforehand on the stage.
Del Toro loses Vine, big mountain stages are imminent
With Jay Vine, the 21-year-old, who was finally the Giro captain of the UAE team after Juan Ayuso’s break-in, lost an important helper and it was very difficult for him to keep a connection on the climb to Passo del Mortirolo, a mountain of the first category. However, del Toro fought himself through, got some helpers at his side on the following departure and collected the necessary strength for his strong attack.
However, this was not yet a preliminary decision on the overall victory. On Thursday there are only three climbs (two of the third and one of the second category) on the square, the big attack on the pink jersey should follow on the following two stages. There are more than 4,500 meters of altitude on the plan before the 108th Tour of Italy ends in Rome on Sunday.