After the rest day, a 219-kilometer stage with four categorized climbs, including the summit finish, is a big test. Yesterday’s stage proved crucial for Britain’s Sky: on the very first climb Spain’s Mikel Landa, last year’s Giro podium finisher and a clear favorite this year, was dropped. After the time trial he had been hopeful, but according to the team doctor, from the morning he suffered a sharp deterioration in health, diagnosed as viral gastroenteritis, with severe abdominal pain. Despite this the team decided to start him, but his condition kept getting worse, and he left the race at kilometer 66 of the stage. Landa is a big loss for all cycling connoisseurs; his presence is the basis for serious intrigue in any big race. As the team doctor said, of course everything will be done to get Mikel back racing in the near future. This year’s Giro, though, is unfortunately over for him.
The stage took on a transitional character; as the finish approached, the breakaway’s chances grew, since the sprinters’ teams naturally didn’t take part in the chase, while the big names try to save their helpers for the decisive mountain battles.
17 May 2016
99th Giro d’Italia
Stage 10 : Campi Bisenzio – Sestola
CUNEGO Damiano (ITA) Nippo – Vini Fantini
CICCONE Giulio (ITA) Bardiani – CSF
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA
On the last climb the Italians of Bardiani–CSF showed their superiority in the lead group. On the final descent Stefano Pirazzi “got in the way” of the stage hunter Il Piccolo Principe (Damiano Cunego) as he tried to react in time to his teammate’s attack, and 21-year-old Giulio Ciccone didn’t waste the chance: he took the first professional win of his career and became the first 21-year-old to win a Giro stage since Taylor Phinney in 2012.
17 May 2016
99th Giro d’Italia
Stage 10 : Campi Bisenzio – Sestola
1st : CICCONE Giulio (ITA) Bardiani – CSF
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA
A separate battle for the pink jersey flared up. Astana made one push, but for the grand favorite it would be far too early to lead the race, and the others didn’t meet the move with folded arms either.
17 May 2016
99th Giro d’Italia
Stage 10 : Campi Bisenzio – Sestola
NIBALI Vincenzo (ITA) Astana
BRAMBILLA Gianluca (ITA) Etixx – Quickstep, Maglia Rosa
JUNGELS Bob (LUX) Etixx – Quickstep, Maglia Bianca
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA
It must be said that Etixx did everything to keep the lead: Gianluca Brambilla, in the pink jersey himself, joined the team’s formation; he did lose it himself, but his work was for the benefit of his teammate, 23-year-old Luxembourger Bob Jungels, and he did hand him the leader’s pink jersey.
17 May 2016
99th Giro d’Italia
Stage 10 : Campi Bisenzio – Sestola
JUNGELS Bob (LUX) Etixx – Quickstep, Maglia Rosa
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA
And so two “unders” became the heroes of the Giro’s tenth stage.
We look forward with great anticipation to the first legendary mountains: it’s there, in the Alps, that the general battles will take place, where the greats will decide among themselves who will wear the winner’s pink on the final podium — after all, everything they do is aimed at owning that last pink jersey. Until then, maneuvers and talk…
17 May 2016
99th Giro d’Italia
Stage 10 : Campi Bisenzio – Sestola
NIBALI Vincenzo (ITA) Astana
VALVERDE Alejandro (ESP) Movistar
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA
Featured image: Yuzuru SUNADA/www.yuzurusunada.com
Inside post thumbnail image: Yuzuru SUNADA/www.yuzurusunada.com
Special thanks to the Japanese photographer Yuzuru SUNADA for permission to use his works in our publications.
Translated from Georgian with the assistance of Claude (Anthropic), reviewed by the Velorbola editors.
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