Giro d'Italia: Giro d'Italia Stage #20: Thibaut Pinot wins - Top 4 within 53 seconds

Cycling: Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) has won the penultimate stage of the 2017 Giro d'Italia. The Frenchman prevailed in the sprint of a group of five ahead of Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) and Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida). Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) were also in this group. Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) finished 15 seconds later. In the overall standings, things remain exciting ahead of tomorrow's time trial. Because: The first four are within just 53 seconds!

Last mountain stage: all against Tom Dumoulin?

After Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) on yesterday 19st stage lost time to his opponents, he had to prove his qualities in the mountains again today. The 20th stage was not considered particularly difficult. It took the drivers over 190 kilometers from Pordenone to Asiago. Immediately after the starting gun, six riders broke away: Dries Devenyns (Quick-Step Floors), Tom-Jelte Slagter (Cannondale-Drapac), Dylan Teuns (BMC), Matthieu Ladagnous (FDJ), Maxim Belkov (Katusha-Alpecin) and Altmeister Filipo Pozzato (Wilier Triestina Selle Italia). The last two pros named had to be torn down on Monte Grappa and were passed into the money of the favorites. Movistar initially set the pace there, but then Katusha-Alpecin took over to prepare for an attack from captain Ilnur Zakarin. It finally happened in the middle of the stage. The group was reduced to around ten men, with Adam Yates (Orica-Scott), Davide Formolo (Cannondale-Drapac) and Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) falling behind, among others.

Tom Dumoulin in trouble

In a slightly flatter part of the climb, the group that had been left behind was able to catch up again. On the descent it increased further. Due to this situation, the pace was reduced again. After all, there were still a few flat kilometers to cover before the last climb of the day and all the favorites were in the same group. 20 hairpin bends led up to the municipality of Foza. But the 14-kilometer mountain is not particularly difficult with an average gradient of just 6,7 percent. However, Team Movistar pushed the pace to cause difficulties for their rivals. Then Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) attacked. Tom Dumoulin was initially distanced by a few meters, but like all the other favorites he was able to close the gap again. Due to the high speed, the breakaway's lead fell to less than a minute. There Devenyns seemed to be the strongest at first, but Teuns left his compatriot behind.

2 vs 3 vs Tom Dumoulin

Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) and Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r) tore the next gap. Shortly thereafter, Nairo attacked Quintana (Movistar). Nibali attached himself to his rear wheel. Both were now chasing Pozzovivo and Zakarin. Devenyns and Teuns were captured. Behind the two duos was a group of around ten led by Sébastian Reichenbach (FDJ). After an attack by Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), the group around Tom Dumoulin was able to reconnect. Nibali, Pinot and Quintana tried to outrun Dumoulin with several attacks. There were gaps again, but the group around Dumoulin couldn't really be distanced. Also because the three of them simply never agreed and always asked each other to cooperate with the typical hand gesture. Arriving at the mountains classification in Foza, Zakarin and Pozzovivo were 15 seconds ahead of Pinot, Quintana and Nibali. Another 15 seconds later, the group of Dumoulin, Jungels, Hirt, Yates, Reichenbach and Mollema crossed the last summit of this Giro d'Italia.

Thibaut Pinot wins stage - Nairo Quintana misses time credit

The five refugees united in the short descent. Again, however, there was no fruitful cooperation. Therefore, the lead could not be extended further. However, the stage winner should come from this group. Domenico Pozzovivo opened the sprint. Thibaut Pinot attached himself to his rear wheel and passed. Second was Ilnur Zakarin ahead of Vincenzo Nibali and Domenico Pozzovivo. As a result, Nairo Quintana missed out on a time bonus. 15 seconds later, the group around Tom Dumoulin also crossed the finish line. This means that the fight for overall victory and the podium remains extremely exciting before the final time trial on Sunday. Because: The first four are within just 53 seconds. Quintana, Nibali, Pinot and Dumoulin dream of overall victory at the Giro d'Italia - but in the end one of them will not even be on the podium!

The result of the 20st stage of the 100th Giro d'Italia 2017

The overall standings of the 100th Giro d'Italia 2017 after 20 of 21 stages