Cycling: Whenever there was a flat stage at the Giro d'Italia this year, the winner was a German. After two wins by Marcel Kittel (Etixx-Quick Step) and three wins by André Greipel (Lotto Soudal), Roger Kluge (IAM) was able to celebrate at the finish today. After the exit of the two German top sprinters, Arnaud Démare (FDJ), Matteo Pelucchi (IAM), Caleb Ewan (Orica-GreenEdge), Moreno Hofland (Lotto-NL Jumbo) and Elia Viviani (Sky), the peloton was not at the end of the stage more capable of maintaining the pace in a controlled manner and preventing a successful breakaway attempt. Old champion Filippo Pozzato (Wilier Triestina-Southeast) attacked in the last kilometer, Roger Kluge clung to his rear wheel and sprinted to the greatest success of his career. The German Nikias Arndt (Giant-Alpecin) finished third behind Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo).
Breakaway king Oss takes the lead in the sprint classification
Today's 17th section led from Molveno to Cassano d'Adda over 196 km. After the main focus in the last few days was the overall classification and the mountain classification, today the focus was again on the sprinter teams. But these were already so decimated by the many tasks that the escapees sensed their big chance today. Daniel Oss (BMC), Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff) and Eugert Zhupa (Wilier Triestina-Southeast) broke away early on. They were initially left alone in the peloton, but after the lead grew to over five minutes, teams Lampre-Merida and Trek-Segafredo shared the lead. Giacomo Nizzolo has yet to win a stage at the Giro, but has finished second eight times. It goes without saying that today he saw his great opportunity to finally be honored on the winner's podium. 75 km and 33 km before the finish, there were the two intermediate sprints, which were important for two classifications. Daniel Oss took the lead in the sprint classification from Maarten Tjallingii (Lotto-NL Jumbo) and in the points classification Giacomo Nizzolo increased his lead over Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) from eight to 13 points.
Kluge uses the absence of the top sprinters
Due to the speed in the main field, the lead of the leading trio melted to less than a minute when three pursuers suddenly made their way. Ignatas Konovalovas (FDJ), Lars Ytting Bak (Lotto Soudal) and Maxim Belkov (Katusha) caught up with 22km to go turning the trio into a sextet. The lead could be extended again for a short time, but five kilometers from the finish it had already melted down to 12 seconds. 1.500 meters before the finish line, the field was able to reconnect and all spectators now expected a mass sprint. Bak immediately attacked again, but was caught again. Under the Rouge flame, veteran Filippo Pozzato (Wilier Triestina-Southeast) then got out of the saddle and launched an attack. Roger Kluge (IAM) chased after. In the peloton there was no longer any organized tracking work, so that Pozzato and Kluge were actually able to break away. With the last 200 meters underway, Kluge caught up with the experienced Italian, passed him and won the first stage of a Grand Tour - both for himself and for Team IAM. Pozzato was even caught, so that Nizzolo ended up in second place and the German Nikias Arndt was able to finish third.
Final result Giro d'Italia 2016 stage #17
Tour Locations | Driver | Country | Team | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Roger Kluge | GER | AMI Cycling | 04:32:29 |
2 | James Nizzolo | ITA | Trek-Segafredo | |
3 | Nickias Arndt | GER | Team Giant Alpecin | |
4 | Sacha Modolo | ITA | Lampre Merida | |
5 | Matteo Trentin | ITA | Etixx QuickStep | |
6 | Alexander Porsev | RUS | Katusha | |
7 | Pim Ligthart | NED | Lotto Soudal | |
8 | Ramunas Navardauskas | LTU | Cannodale | |
9 | Manuel Belletti | ITA | Willier Trestina-Southeast | |
10 | Paolo Simon | ITA | Bardiani CSF |
General classification Giro d'Italia 2016
Driver | Country | Team | Time | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Vincenzo Nibali | ITA | Astana | 86:32:49 |
2. | Stephen Chaves | COL | Orica GreenEDGE | 00:00:52 |
3. | Alejandro Valverde | ESP | Movistar | 00:01:17 |
4. | Steven Krujswijk | NED | LottoNL Jumbo | 00:01:50 |
5. | Rafal Mayka | POL | Tinkoff | 00:04:37 |
6. | Bob jungels | LUX | Etixx - Quick Step | 00:08:31 |
7. | Rigoberto Urán | COL | Cannondale | 00:11:47 |
8. | Andrew Amador | COL | Movistar | 00:13:21 |
9. | Darwin Atapuma | COL | BMC | 00:14:09 |
10. | Constantsin Siutsou | BLR | Cannondale | 00:16:20 |
Leave a Comment