the most open Giro d'Italia in history, with six cyclists packed into a minute and a half on the eve of a 29,3 km time trial. The last mountain stage (watch the highlights here) didn't revolutionize the standings, on the contrary it made it even more uncertain. The Pordenone-Asiago of 190 km is won by Pinot in a space arrival with five of the first six in the general classification. Only Dumoulin is detached and remains 15″ behind: a minimum delay which confirms him as the obligatory favorite for the final victory in the light of tomorrow's time trial, his hunting ground. Behind the winner, Zakarin second and Nibali third. The general classification: Quintana leads with a lead of 39″ on Nibali, 43″ on Pinot, 53″ on Dumoulin, 1'15” Zakarin, 1'30” Pozzovivo. The climb to Monte Grappa is emotionless, with the real action starting on the Foza, the last gpm of the Giro, where two exemplary Pozzovivo and Dumoulin climb first, while Nibali, Quintana and Pinot climb together, between one attack after another, while Dumoulin, while detached, always keeps them in sight. The last fifteen kilometers flatten out and the Vincenzo-Nairo-Thibaut trio gets back on Pozzovivo and Zakarin, with the Dutchman still a handful of seconds behind.
THE START — High pace and great attention distinguish the opening stages of the stage, with the concrete action of the day starting at km. 15, when 6 lead: Dylan Teuns (Bmc), Tom-Jelte Slagter (Cannondale Drapac), Ladagnous Matthieu (Fdj), Dries Devenyns (Quick-Step Floors), Maxim Belkov (Katusha Alpecin) and Filippo Pozzato (Wilier Triestina ). The Italian himself takes the lead at the first gpm of the day, Muro di Ca' del Poggio - 1,1 km at 12.7%, max 18% -, when the group splits up behind him and counterattacks start, then reabsorbed without problems by the group of big. The advantage of the pacesetters increases, who, having passed the flying finish line of Feltre, attack the climb to Monte Grappa – 24,2 km at 5.3%, max 11% – with 7'30”. On the ramps towards the gpm the pace is very high and Zakarin's Katusha Alpecin pushes to the front to skim off the group of the best. Up front Pozzato and Belkov lose contact until they are reabsorbed, and the gap from the pacesetters also drops to 2'30”, with only Devenyns and Teuns holding on in the lead.
RUTHLESS — The pace of the men in the standings was ruthless, with only ten left; tired and under pressure in the more severe stretches, Dumoulin took advantage of the less demanding parts of the long climb in order not to lose the wheel of his rivals. The long and technical descent that followed didn't create jolts, with the Dutchman among the first to avoid ambushes. After a short flat stretch, the climb towards Foza starts in Valstagna – 14 km at 6.7%, max 11% -. On the last ramps Teuns remained alone in the lead while behind the Movistar he put everyone to the whip: then, 24,5 from the finish, Nibali took off and followed the big names with the exception of Dumoulin, who was always fixed on his pace. It is there that the forcing of the Zakarin-Pozzovivo couple starts, who takes the lead of the race and digs a small furrow on Nibali and Quintana who respond together. They are also joined by Pinot, while Dumoulin lingers but does not give up, also supported by Jungels. The gaps never widen: Dumoulin can take advantage of the Monza-Milan time trial to become the first Dutch winner of the Giro. Nibali, however, continues to believe it: "Tom also struggled, let's see...".
FINISH — Thibaut PINOT (Fra, Fdj) 190 km in 4h57'58”; 2. Zakarin (Rus, Katusha) st; 3. Nibali (Bahrain-Merida); 4. Pozzovivo; 5. Quintana (Col); 6. Jungels (Lus) at 15″; 7. Yates (GB); 8. Reichenbach (Svi); 9. Mollema (Ola); 10. Dumoulin (Ola).
STANDINGS — 1. Nairo QUINTANA (Col, Movistar) 90h00'38”; 2. Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) at 39″; 3. Pinot (Fra, Fdj) at 43″; 4. Dumoulin (Ola) at 53″; 5. Zakarin (Rus) at 1'15”; 6. Pozzolive at 1'30”; 7. Mollema (Ola) at 3'03”; 8. Yates (Gb) at 6'50”; 9. Jungels (Lus) at 7'18”; 10. Formolo at 12'55”.
