Omar Fraile wins dramatic 11th stage at the Giro d'Italia

Dimension Data's Omar Fraile out sprinted Rui Costa (UAE-Team Emirates) and Pierre Rolland (Cannondale) after being in the breakaway all day

The stage was 161 kilometers long between Florence and Bagno di Romagna, a mountain stage with 4 categorized climbs, two climbs second category and the other two third category.

Several attempts at a breakaway failed and it was after 50 kilometers into the race that Omar Fraile (Dimension Data) and Mikel Landa (Team Sky) managed to escape the peloton.

They built up a lead of over five minutes over the Maglia Rosa group and just behind them a group of more than 20 riders including Ben Hermans (BMC), Pierre Rolland (Cannondale-Drapac), Laurens Ten Dam (Team Sunweb), Rui Costa (UAE-Team Emirates) and Andrey Amador (Movistar) got closer and eventually caught them with more than 30 kilometers to go.

During the final big climb up the Monte Fumaiolo, Fraile and Rolland attacked, crossing the KOM line first and managing to take more time on the descent. Behind them the main bunch saw several attacks from the favorites including Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) and Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida), but they could not get a clear advantage over others like Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb).

Behind Geraint Thomas and Stephen Kruijswijk and Tejay van Garderen were all dropped by the Pink Jersey group. 

In the last 10kms, Rui Costa attacked the chase group and bridged accross to the two at the front of the race and the three of them rode together.

With just over one more kilometer to go, Tanel Kangert (Astana) attacked from the chase and managed to catch the three leaders too.

The last kilometer was very fast with the chase group breathing down theuir necks and nearly catching them on the line.

But in the end Fraile had the freshest legs and sprinted across the finish line ahead of Costa and Rolland.

Kangert and Giovanni Visconti (Bahrain-Merida) completed the top five of the day

Over 1 minute later later, the group of the favorites arrived together and the top five of the General Classification remains unchanged.

Andre Amador in particular moved up the overall GC rankings to 6th place after finishing in the chase group ahead of the Pink Jersey group.

Only five riders remain within around 3 minutes of Tom Dumoulin on the GC. Dumoulin  successfully defended the Pink Jersey today.

2017 Giro d'Italia Stage 11 Top Ten Results

1 Omar Fraile (Spa) Dimension Data 4:23:14 
2 Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates   
3 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Cannondale-Drapac   
4 Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team   
5 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Bahrain-Merida   
6 Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing Team   
7 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Astana Pro Team   
8 Simone Petilli (Ita) UAE Team Emirates   
9 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:00:03 
10 Laurens De Plus (Bel) Quick-Step Floors  

2017 Giro d'Italia over GC after Stage 11

1 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb 47:22:07 
2 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:02:23 
3 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:02:38 
4 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 0:02:40 
5 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 0:02:47 
6 Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team 0:03:05 
7 Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors 0:03:56 
8 Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team 0:03:59 
9 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:04:05 
10 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin 0:04:17 
11 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:05:19 
12 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:06:07 
13 Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac 0:06:19 
14 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky 0:06:21 
15 Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates 0:06:29 
16 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott 0:06:58 
17 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:07:22 
18 Jan Polanc (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 0:07:39 
19 Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:08:12 
20 Simone Petilli (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:13:23

VIDEO: 2017 Giro d'Italia Stage 11 Highlights