Buitrago wins tough Stage 17 as Carapaz hangs onto Pink Jersey

Santiago Buitrago Sánchez (Bahrain Victorious) has won Stage 17 of the 2022 Giro d’Italia, the 168km long Ponte di Legno-Lavarone. Gijs Leemreize (Jumbo Visma) and Jan Hirt (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) finished second and third respectively

Race favorite Richard Carapaz maintained his slim overall lead of the Giro d’Italia after a tough Stage 17 which was won by Santiago Buitrago for his first grand tour victory.

Carapaz remained three seconds ahead of 2020 runner-up Jai Hindley – with just four days of racing remaining – after both crossed the line together at the end of the 168-kilometer (104-mile) route from Ponte di Legno to Lavarone, which packed in almost 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) of climbing.

Mikel Landa finished six seconds behind the duo but moved into third overall, 1 minute and five seconds behind Carapaz. He surpassed Joao Almeida who was dropped on the second of the two top-category climbs that came in the final 40 kilometers of the race.

Speaking seconds after the stage finish, Buitrago said: “To win a stage of the Giro is exceptional for me, especially after the big disappointment of my second place on Sunday. The key to win today was patience in the climb. I think I played it well. This win is for my family in Colombia and all the people who have supported me until now.”

Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) retains the Maglia Rosa. Carapaz said: “The truth is it has been a very tough day. But in the end, that’s another good one for the overall standings. Tomorrow will be another important day. Until Verona I have to stay focused all the way.”

Double stage winner Simon Yates abandoned the Giro d’Italia on today’s stage after suffering ongoing knee pain. The 29-year-old Brit stormed to victory in the time trial event on stage two before unfortunately crashing on stage four to Mount Etna, which saw the Team BikeExchange-Jayco suffer knee issues on the following stages.

“Yates’ fall on Mount Etna and subsequent knee problem (likely edema of the bony spongiosa of the patella) weighed down on the rider for all following stages of the Giro d’Italia,” said Team BikeExchange-Jayco Doctor Matteo Beltemacchi. “Despite daily therapy and Simon’s tenacity, that resulted in a second stage win, the knee pain grew worse and worse, eventually leading to the decision for his retirement from the race.”

VIDEO: 2022 Giro d’Italia Stage 17 Highlights

2022 Giro d’Italia Stage 17 Top 10

01 COL Santiago Buitrago Bahrain Victorious 04:27:41
02 NED Gijs Leemreize Jumbo-Visma + 35
03 CZE Jan Hirt Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert + 02:28
04 GBR Hugh Carthy EF Education-EasyPost + 02:28
05 ECU Richard Carapaz INEOS Grenadiers + 02:53
06 AUS Jai Hindley BORA-hansgrohe + 02:53
07 BEL Mauri Vansevenant Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team + 02:57
08 NED Koen Bouwman Jumbo-Visma + 02:59
09 FRA Guillaume Martin Cofidis + 02:59
10 ESP Mikel Landa Bahrain Victorious + 02:59

2022 Giro d’Italia GC after Stage 17 Top 10

01 ECU Richard Carapaz INEOS Grenadiers 73:19:40
02 AUS Jai Hindley BORA-hansgrohe + 03
03 ESP Mikel Landa Bahrain Victorious + 01:05
04 POR Joao Almeida UAE Team Emirates + 01:54
05 ITA Vincenzo Nibali Astana Qazaqstan Team + 05:48
06 ESP Pello Bilbao Bahrain Victorious + 06:19
07 CZE Jan Hirt Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert + 07:12
08 GER Emanuel Buchmann BORA-hansgrohe + 07:13
09 ESP Juan Pedro Lopez Trek-Segafredo + 12:27
10 ITA Domenico Pozzovivo Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert + 12:30

Maglia Rosa, leader of the General Classification – Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers)
Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification – Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ)
Maglia Azzurra, leader of the Gran Premio della Montagna (KOM) – Koen Bouwman (Jumbo-Visma)
Maglia Bianca, Best Young Rider – João Pedro Almeida Gonçalves (UAE Team Emirates)