Mikel Landa wins Stage as Dumoulin loses Maglia Rosa

Dumoulin loses the Pink Jersey to Nairo Quintana on the final climb to Piancavallo

Today's stage decended in chaos and controversy after around 40 kms or racing when the Pink Jersey holder Tom Dumoulin, was reported to have stopped for another nature break as in stage 16.

Suddenly Movistar and Bahrain-Merida put the hammer down and opened up a split in the Peloton.

It became clear that Tom Dumoulin and his Team SunWeb teammates were in the split behind with the gap growing quickly. Meanwhile Movistar and Bahrain Merida turned up the gas looking to open up the gap even further which had gone up to 58 seconds.

Tom Dumoulin's group managed to back on and the peloton slowed as a new breakaway of 12 riders went away and built up a lead of over 6 minutes.

After the initial drama ebbed away the peloton slowed and a lot of the domestiques 

On the final brutal 15 km climb of Piancavallo, Tom Dumoulin started to drift off the back of the favorites group. Slowly and surely the gap opened up. Thibaut Pinot was the first to attack Quintaana and Nibali who didn't react. Behind Dumoulin gots over the 14 percent steeper gradients as his teammate peeled of leaving him on his own. 

On the lower gradients he fought back to make up time.

Ahead Nibali attacked Quintana who managed to respond and they crossed the line 8 minutes behind stage winner Mikel Landa.

But it was Dumoulin who finished over a minute behind Quintana who lost the Pink Jersey.

In the end Dumoulin was 38 seconds behind new Maglia Rosa wearer Nairo Quintana and 43 seconds behind Nibali. Thibaut Pinot made up time and sits just 53 seconds behind as he eye's a podium place, only 10 seconds behind Nibali.

Mikel Landa said afterwards "It’s been difficult moments in the last month. And now also here, I know, we started well, but we had the crash and we have to regroup. I feel very happy - also the emotion was because my family is here - I’m really happy."

"I had a teammate in the breakaway, and this was key for my win today. I’m very happy and proud. Maybe it’s not what we expected at the beginning, but I’m very proud."

Tom Dumoulin said afterwards, "I made a rookie mistake leaving a gap on one of the early descents. But on the final climb I just didn't have the legs and just tried limit my loses. It's not over yet"

Nairo Quintana said afterwards, "We worked hard today and went into the final climb and went for it. Everyone is tired but,  I hope to push it once again tomorrow."

2017 Giro d'Italia Stage 19 Top Ten

1 Mikel Landa (Spa) Team Sky 4:53:00 
2 Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:49 
3 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Cannondale-Drapac 0:01:54 
4 Pello Bilbao (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:02:12 
5 Sebastian Henao (Col) Team Sky 0:03:06 
6 Evgeny Shalunov (Rus) Gazprom – Rusvelo 0:03:51 
7 Luis León Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team   
8 Matteo Busato (Ita) Wilier Triestina 0:05:05 
9 Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSF   
10 Ilia Koshevoy (Blr) Wilier Triestina 0:06:44

2017 Giro d'Italia General Classification after Stage 19

1 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 85:02:40 
2 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb 0:00:38 
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 0:00:43 
4 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 0:00:53 
5 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin 0:01:21 
6 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:30 
7 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:02:48 
8 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott 0:06:35 
9 Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors 0:07:03 
10 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:07:37

VIDEO: 2017 Giro d'Italia Stage 19 Highlights

Tomorrow's final mountain Stage 20, Saturday May 27, Pordenone to Asiago, is a190 km Mountain stage. A long stage with long climbs. After the first half across the hilly region around Treviso famous for its Prosecco vineyards, the route reaches Feltre where (it climbs up the Monte Grappa on its north side. It is a climb measuring 24 km in length with long sections at 7-8% gradients with some short stretches and minor descents. A very long descent heading to Romano d’Ezzelino is followed by 10 km on a flat section leading to the 14 km climb up to Foza at a gradient of 7.1%. The stage route undulates the final 10 km to the finish in Asiago.

Another very crucial stage in the battle for the Pink jersey with tired legs  and almost three weeks of racing. This come before the final short time trial in Milan on Sunday.