Quintana Wins Giro Stage Sixteen

Last updated : 27 May 2014 By Covsupport News Service

Colombian Nairo Quintano moved into the lead of the Giro D'Italia with a stunning victory on stage sixteen.

One of the hardest stages in a 139km stage from Ponte di legno to Val Martello /Martelltal featured the Gavia and the Stelvio climbs as well as a climb up to the finish line.

The stage started without Team Sky's Edvald Boasson-Hagen as the remaining riders started on the 2619m Gavia climb which came twenty two kilometres into the stage.

The Colombian Robinson Chalapud got away on the climb and was first over the Gavia summit, followed some forty nine seconds later by King Of The Mountains leader Julien Arredondo and Pantano.

The descent on wet roads with ice and snow on either side of the road was a cautious one and saw Franco Pellizotti, Dario Cataldo and Alexis Vuillermoz followed by Dupont, Rosa, Chalapud, Pantano, Niemic & Kiserlovski and a lead of 2.35 over the peloton with 85.7kms to go.

Pellizotti, Cataldo, Vuillermoz, Chalapud, Rosa, Kiserlovski, Niemiec, Dupont, Pantano and Geniez took over on the front with a 1.45 lead over the peloton going up the 2488m Stelvo climb.

Dario Cataldo of Team Sky attacked as it was announced by race radio that the descent of the Stelvo would be neutralised due to the conditions which saw snow coming down heavily.

Cataldo took the prize for being first over the highest point of the Giro - the Cima Coppi and the forty points on offer for this hors category climb, which has the second highest road pass in Europe, eighteen seconds ahead of Chalapud and Dupont, some 15.16 ahead of a gorpu containing Diego Ulissi.

Riders were stopping at the top to get rain jackets and more protective clothing.

There was confusion as to whether the the descent had been neutralised and in the end, the organisers put out a tweet citing wrong communication and in rain instead of snow, Nairo Quintana, formed a second chasing group with Rabottini, Rolland, Hesjedal, Sicard and Izaguirre which had a 2.05 lead on the maglia rosa group of Rigoberto Uran

Cataldo took the intermediate sprint just before Schlanders and was first over the martlello climb as the chasing group of Qunitana and Rolland caught up to Cataldo with 17.7kms to go.

Heading towards the finish line on the Val Martello/Martelltal with 12.5kms to go, Quintana and Rolland had been joined by Ryder Hesjedal and they were 1.43 ahead of the maglia rosa group.

With 6.5kms to go and Rigoberto Uran, thee minutes and five seconds back, Nairo Quintana was the leader on the road. Rafal Majka tried to close ahead of Kelderman in the group of favourites.

Quintana was started to push away with Hesjedal, a former Giro winner, following him with five kilometres left.

Quintana and Hesjedal shared the work until just before the final kilometre when the Colombian went away with eight hair pin bends to complete.

They were completed with ease by Quintana who took his third win of the season and his first outside South America when he won in 4.42.35, Hesjedal finished second seven seconds back with Rolland of Europcar third at 1.13.

Wilco Kelderman of Belkin came in fourth at 3.32 with Rigoberto Uran coming in at 4.11 down and Cadel Evans at 4.48 with Kiserlovski.

This superb win in horrendous conditions gave Quintana not only the young riders jersey which had been worn by Rafal Majka but the maglia rosa as well by 1.41 from Uran and 3.21 from Cadel Evans.