Giro d’Italia Stage 17: Buitrago Earnings from GC Stalemate

The Giro d’Italia may have entered the Dolomites today but there was no awakening the fight for pink just yet, as Santiago Buitrago of Bahrain took the stage from a long and lively breakaway fight, while the top three overall contenders Richard Carapaz, Jai Hindley and Nikel Landa rolled home together — more or less; Landa managed to lose six seconds in the run-in. Buitrago hunted down Jumbo’s Gees Leemreize, who himself had just barely separated from none other than Mathieu van der Poel to take the race lead, only for the Colombian to come past on the final climb of the day, the Menador, to overtake the Dutchman and win the stage.

Results:

1. BUITRAGO SANCHEZ Santiago TBV 4h27’41”
2. LEEMREIZE Gijs TJV 35”
3. HIRT Jan IWG 02’28”
4. CARTHY Hugh EFE 02’28”
5. CARAPAZ MONTENEGRO Richard Antonio IGD 02’53”
6. HINDLEY Jai BOH 02’53”
7. VANSEVENANT Mauri QST 02’57”
8. BOUWMAN Koen TJV 02’59”
9. MARTIN Guillaume COF 02’59”
10. LANDA MEANA Mikel TBV 02’59”

GC:

1. CARAPAZ, 73:19:40
2. HINDLEY, at :03
3. LANDA, at 1:05
4. ALMEIDA João, UAE Team Emirates, at 1:54
5. NIBALI Vincenzo, Astana Qazaqstan Team, at 5:48

Ponte di Legno – Lavarone 166 km

Day 2 of the final week of terror. A more straightforward stage with two big climbs with no respite at the end.

Eight kilometers at 10%, no biggie.

Expected finish: 16:35 – 17:35 CEST

Guns of the Lavarone : Jai Hindley

If things continue as they have he should just edge out Carapaz in a sprint at the end. It’s that day when that script is upended we’re looking for though.

There’s a 50% chance they’ll let a stupid break go and some sap gets half-gifted a win by Ineos&Co conserving their energy for the finale but I’m not going to guess a name for that. Although it’s probably Yates.

Official site , Startlist