Thibaut Pinot wins the final Mountain Stage of the Giro
FDJ's Thibaut Pinot outsprints his breakaway companions of favorites as they put more time into Tom Dumoulin
With 76kms to go Ilnur Zakarin from Katusha attacked on the slopes of Monte Grappa. Nibali, Quintana, Pinot, Jungels, DuMoulin and Landa followed leaving only eight riders left in the peloton.
It all came back together for the fight to be taken to the final 15 km climb of the Forza.
Zakarin and Pozzovivio attacked and opened up a gap on the lower slopes of the Forza.
Quintana attacked half way up the Forza, and opened up a gap on the steeper slopes to Dumoulin, taking Nibali with him.
Pinot managed to bridge across and just when it looked like the group containing Jungels, Yates, Richenbach, Hirt and Dumoulin would chase back, Quintana attacked again taking Nibali and Pinot with him.
On the descent they caught Zakarin and Pozzovivo and the five riders worked together to maintain their gap over the Dumoulin group.
Behind Jungels, Yates, Richenbach, Hirt and Dumoulin fought back and closed the gap to around 7 seconds, only for it to go back up to 15 seconds on the small slopes on the run into the finish.
On the line Pozzovivo opened up his sprint, but it wasThibaut Pinot, the best sprinter, who overtook Pozzovivo on the line to win his first stage of the Giro.
The Dumoulin group limited their loses and crossed the line 15 seconds behind.
2017 Giro d'Italia Stage 20 Results
1st Thibaut Pinot
2nd Ilnur Zakarin
3rd Vincezo Nibali
4th Domenico Pozzovivo
5th Nairo Quintana
6th Bob Jungels +15 secs
7th Adam Yates
8th Sebastien Rechenbach
9th Baulke Mollema
10th Tom Dumoulin
2017 Giro d'Italia General Classification After Stage 20
1st Nairo Quintana
2nd Vincenzo Nibali +39 secs
3rd Thibaut Pinot +43 secs
4th Tom Dumoulin +53 secs
5th Inur Zakarin 1m 15 secs
6th Domenico Pozzovvio 1m 30 secs
7th Bauke Mollema 3m 3 secs
8th Adam Yates 6m 50 secs
9th Bob Jungels 7m 18 secs
10th Davide Formolo 12m 55 secs
The Final Individual Time Trial could decide the overall Winner?
Tomorrow's final stage 21, Sunday May 28, from Monza to Milaan is a 28 km Individual Time Trial. The Individual Time is perfectly flat and runs along the boulevards in Monza and into Milan after the start at the Monza Motor Racing Track (one complete lap is raced). A “classic” finale in the city where the Giro d’Italia was born with the finish line in Piazza Duomo. If there are any time gaps to be closed, this will be the final opportunity.
Tom Dumoulin is only 53 seconds down on Quintana and could still win the Maglia Rosa by taking back time on Quintana on the final time trial. Similarly Thibaut Pinot could move up from 3rd on the podium with a polished time trial.
It's going to be very close between the four favorites Dumoulin, Pinot, Quintana and Nibali. All four riders will need to put in the best time trial of their lives if they want to win the Maglia Rosa or secure a podium place.
Be sure to tune in tomorrow for a nail biting finale in the fight for Pink!
VIDEO: Giro d'Italia Stage 20 Highlights
Live Coverage
16:14 CET - General Classification after Stage 20:
1st Nairo Quintana
2nd Vincenzo Nibali +39 secs
3rd Thibaut Pinot +43 secs
4th Tom Dumoulin +53 secs
5th Inur Zakarin 1m 15 secs
6th Domenico Pozzovvio 1m 30 secs
7th Bauke Mollema 3m 3 secs
8th Adam Yates 6m 50 secs
9th Bob Jungels 7m 18 secs
10th Davide Formolo 12m 55 secs
@ThibautPinot @EquipeFDJ ??????#Giro100 #EurosportCICLISMO pic.twitter.com/EArYLxCdx0
— Eurosport IT (@Eurosport_IT) May 27, 2017
16:12 CET - Top Ten Stage 20 Results:
1st Thibaut Pinot
2nd Ilnur Zakarin
3rd Vincezo Nibali
4th Domenico Pozzovivo
5th Nairo Quintana
6th Bob Jungels +15 secs
7th Adam Yates
8th Sebastien Rechenbach
9th Baulke Mollema
10th Tom Dumoulin
16:09 CET - Quintana retains the pink jersey
16:07 CET - 15 seconds between the leaders and Dumoulin group
16:05 CET - Thibaut Pinot wins the stage.
16:03 CET - Quintana, Nibali, Pinot, Zakarin and Pozzovivo, 1km to go!
16:02 CET - 4 kms to go for the five leaders, the gap has gone back up to 18 seconds.
16:00 CET - The gap is down to seven seconds to Dumoulin group. Jungels, Yates, Richenback are all working with Dumoulin.
15:58 CET - Only 6 kms to go. Hirt and Richenback are working in the Dumoulin group
15:57 CET - Yates, Mollema, Jungels and Dumoulin are chasing back, 12 seconds
15:55 CET - The five leaders are working together and the gap is coming down to 19 seconds. Dumoulin is coming back.
15:52 CET - Five riders in the lead, Nibali, Zakarin,Pozzovivo,Pinot and Quintana. They need to ride together to maintain the gap of 25 seconds to Dumoulin.
15:51 CET - Nibali, Dumoulin and Quintana are catching Zakarin, Pozzovivo
15:49 CET - Dumoulin is only 12 secs behind Pinot,Nibali and Quintana
15:47 CET - Pozzovivo and Zakarin crest the top of the Forza, 14kms to the finish
15:46 CET - Quintana, Pinot and Nibali are failing to crack Dumoulin
15:44 CET - Bob Jungels is working to bring them back, Dumoulin keeps calm, the gap is only 50 metres
15:43 CET - Pinot attacks with Nibali and Quintana trying to drop Dumoulin
15:42 CET - Quintana attacks again, he has no choice if he wants to win.
15:40 CET - 3 kms to the top and Dumoulin has fought back onto the wheels of Nibali and Quintana. Jungels, Yates all here too. Their attack has failed.
15:38 CET - Dumoulin gets back and Quintana attacks again on the steeper sections
15:36 CET - 4 kms to the top and the other favorites have chased down Quintana and Nibali
15:35 CET - Pinot, Jungels, Yates and Dumoulin are chasing, 15 seconds down on the Zakarin group
15:34 CET - Quintana and Nibali are catching Pozzovivo and Zakarin
15:32 CET - Quintana and Nibali open up a 15 second gap halfway up the Forza. Dumoulin and Pinot cannot respond. Ahead Zakarin And Pozzovivio push on.
15:32 CET - Nibali follows and counter attacks!
15:31 CET - QUINTANA ATTACKS!
15:29 CET - Zakarin attacks and Pozzovivo follows
15:27 CET - Five riders in front and Dumoulin gets back, it's Nibali, Pinot, Quintana, Zakarin, Potsovivo and Dumoulin left.
15:26 CET - All the favorites have followed except for Dumoulin, a gap has opened up
15:25 CET - Nibali ATTACKS!
15:21 CET - Quintana, Pinot, Nibali, Dumoulin and Zakarin all here. The two breakaway leaders lead goes under 2 minutes.
15:20 CET - Amador and Anacona lead Quintana up the Forza, Nibali, Pinot, Zakarin and Dumoulin all follow.
15:17 CET - If they don't attack Dumoulin, he could take the Pink Jersey back tomorrow. Quintana need's to attack.
15:15 CET - We're hearing that Gianni Visconti has abandoned the race after being distanced earlier on the stage.
15:13 CET - This is a BRUTAL finale, do not miss this.
15:12 CET - Who has the legs? Nibali, Quintana, Pinot, Zakarin or Dumoulin?
15:09 CET - This is it folks. The final showdown on the Forza, whoever crests this in the lead from the GC bunch could possibly win the Maglia Rosa
15:03 CET - Less than 10km until the favorites hit the final climb. It tops out with 15km to go and then there's an undulating fast finish.
14:52 CET - With 40km to go, the Belgian pair may start to believe that they have a chance to take today's win but with a climb up to Foza to come
14:46 CET - The Foza looms before the summit finish. The cat 1 climb is about 15km long and could be the last place in the fight for pink.
14:44 CET - Here are the final switchbacks of the Forza climb
14:30 CET - The favorites are altogether with 52 kms to go
14:27 CET - Watch Nibali on the descent, he won the 2010 Giro by attacking here ....
14:26 CET - The favorites are 2m 56s behind on the Monte Grappa
14:25 CET - Quick-Step Floors Devenyns crests the Monte Grappa first
14:24 CET - Riders making it over to the Quintana group, including Jan Hirt, Sebastian Reichenbach and Adam Yates.
14:17 CET - Katusha's Kiserlovski still at the front, Devenyns and Teuns lead with 2m 45s with 69 kms to go
14:15 CET - Behind Mollema, Yates and Hirt all trying to chase back on
14:10 CET - It's Zakarin and a domestique, Nibali, Quintana, Pinot, Jungels, DuMoulin, Pozzovivo and Landa left
14:08 CET - There are only eight riders left in the peloton.
14:05 CET - Ilnur Zakarin from Katusha has attacked on the slopes of Monte Grappa
13:51 CET - The slope goes up to 7pc, Katusha lead with Movistar following, Quintana behind his domestiques, then Nibali, Dumoulin and Thibaut Pinot. It's anyone's race as the favorites are all within 53 seconds of each other. Nail biting stuff.
13:49 CET - Nibali, Quintana, Pinot, Dumoulin all with 53 seconds. 30 riders left in the main peloton as the pace increases.
13:49 CET - One by one riders are being dropped on the Monte Grappa
13:37 CET - Bad news for Nairo Quintana as Winner Anacona is dropped. It's been a tough few days and its taken its toll on the Colombian.
13:32 CET - Gorgeous view from the top of the Monte Grappa today
13:30 CET - Quintana, Nibali and Pinot need to attack to gain time on Dumoulin, otherwise Dumoulin could take the Pink Jsersey back in tomorrow's final time trial.
13:30 CET - The riders are now onto the Monte Grappa!
13:08 CET - Fact: Vincenzo Nibali escaped on the Monte Grappa descent and won in 2010 and he knows this climb very well
13:05 CET - Tom Dumoulin said yesterday that he knew he was in for a bad day "So far so good. I just have to see how it feels on the bike. Yesterday was a bad day but hopefully today will be better," he said on the start line. t will be action from the beginning to get a good breakaway. A lot of teams want to have guys in the breakaway. And then from Monte Grappa it will be full gas until the line."
13:02 CET - The breakaway consists of; Teuns, Devenyns, Ladagnous, Pozzato, Slagter and Belkov
12:57 CET - 109 kms to go, the gap is at nearly 7 minutes
12:51 CET - VIDEO: fans mocking Tom Dumoulin with Toilet Rolls on yesterday's stage 19.
12:49 CET - Monte Grappa will see a real fight for the Maglia Rosa today
12:47 CET - Tom Doumoulin said this monring - "Yesterday was a bad day, today will be a big day and we expect it to kickoff on the slopes of the Monte Grappa".
12:46 CET - Nibali cannot afford to take Quintana over the final climb today
12:46 CET - Dumoulin will be attacked on the slopes of the Monte Grappa today
12:44 CET - Quintana needs to attack and find over 1 minute and 30 seconds today
12:36 CET - Pozzato leads the breakaway over the first climb of the Ca del Poggio. Dimension Data lead the chase, the gap has come down to just under a minute after 40km.
12:15 CET - Tom Dumoulin looks to have secured himself a new contract. According to the Dutch press, he has signed a new contract with Sunweb until at least 2021.
11:40 CET - Just in, video of fans mocking Tom Dumoulin with Tiolet Rolls on yesterday's stage 19.
11:35 CET - The Giro d'Italia at the start observed a minute of silence to remember the Manchester bombing, the death of mtorcycling world champion and cyclist Nicky Hayden and Viellehner
11:34 CET - On this decisive stage, Pippo Pozzato has got himself into the six man breakaway
11:31 CET - Stage 20 has started, a breakaway of six riders has been established
11:25 CET - Kruijswijk abandons with stomach problems. Steven Kruijswijk will not be at the start of the penultimate stage of the Giro d’Italia today The LottoNL-Jumbo captain is suffering from stomach problems, according to the Dutch media.
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.
This could be a very crucial stage in the battle for the Pink jersey with tired legs and almost three weeks of racing.
