Roglic punctures, gets on a teammate's bike, chases but falls, ending up clinging to a guard rail on the Civiglio descent. Under two or three hairpin bends there is Nibali who draws the curves like few others with Carapaz and Yates struggling to keep up with him. In the end there were 40'' that Roglic had to concede to his direct rivals but the stage in Como which followed the route of the Giro di Lombardia, with an exciting and captivating finale, changed the morale and biorhythm of the two super rivals more than the classification. Tour favourites.
After the race in Como, Nibali smiled and joked again, as never before seen in this Giro, acclaimed by the crowd in front of the stage of the Process at the Rai stage. As for Roglic, after today's rest, it will be tomorrow's Mortirolo stage – even without the Gavia abolished due to the risk of avalanches – to test the health and mood of the Slovenian, who was defeated for the first time in this Giro. albeit for bad luck and perhaps also for the decision to face the ascent and descent of the Civiglio with a bike that was not his with all the risks he then encountered.
The Giro da Pinerolo has changed face: the boredom of an all too long start has been removed before tackling the real mountains, becoming electrifying and uncertain day after day. Because between Nibali and Roglic some third parties are entering the fight for supremacy, in a way unexpected like Carapaz, or who now seemed out of the standings like Landa, always a threat as soon as the road rears up, or Yates himself who yesterday – third in Como – he was among the liveliest in the high-ranking men's squad.
Carapaz – immediately nicknamed the Condor of Ecuador after the bird of prey of the Andes which is portrayed in the flag of his native country – is demonstrating that he can go fast uphill without fearing the risks of the descent. In Como he extended his advantage over Roglic to 47 '' while Nibali closed the gap from the Slovenian to 1'47 “.
The challenge that has ignited in the upper quarters of the Giro standings must not overlook the extraordinary feat of Dario Cataldo (Astana) and Mattia Cattaneo (Androni-Sidermac) who set off on the run immediately after the start and resisted the return of their pursuers – by Nibali in particular – until they disputed the victory in a two-man sprint, which saw the success of Cataldo.
A successful breakaway of 218 km which at one point saw the two leaders accumulate up to 13 minutes of advantage, which at the finish line was reduced to a handful of seconds, 11 to be exact, over the third, Yates, who ruled in the 'order Jonh Carthy, Carapaz and Nibali. Lopez and Landa finished at 36'' with Maika, Pozzovivo and Formolo. Roglic crossed the finish line at 51'' preceded by Bauke Mollema.
