Georg Steinhauser flew to a solo victory on stage 17 of the Giro d’Italia, after going alone on the penultimate climb of the day.
The EF Schooling-EasyPost rider got here near his maiden win on stage 15 in Livigno, however was caught – as so many others have been – by Tadej Pogačar (UAE Staff Emirates). Three days later, the younger German took an announcement win.
The 22-year-old was a part of the day’s break, which was caught by the peloton, however then attacked once more with Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Lidl-Trek). With 34km to go, Steinhauser went alone, and held on to say a well-known triumph.
In the meantime, Pogačar prolonged his lead within the basic classification, using away from his rivals on the ultimate climb. Whereas he appeared to simply take time on Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe), he ran out of highway to take his sixth stage win of the race. Pogačar now leads by 7:42 over Martínez in second, and eight:04 over Thomas in third.
The one notable time misplaced of the day was the 1:05 given up by Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), who slipped behind in his battle for the rostrum.
Forward of the GC fray, although, Steinhauser put rode impressively on one other day in grim situations.
“It is one thing unbelievable,” he stated. “Already on stage 8 I seen I had good legs, I believed perhaps I may win a stage. The queen stage was an unbelievable day, I may already be pleased with that. In the present day, after I rode to signal on, I although f*** I’ve good legs, perhaps I’ll win as we speak.
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“I went from the start with the break, and it was a bit of bit unusual as a result of we obtained caught by the peloton once more. At one second I believed I needed to strive once more, I did, and it labored out.”
Requested if he knew Pogačar was chasing him down within the ultimate 3km, he stated: “I heard on the radio, and I used to be tremendous nervous on the final climb. I knew I needed to push all the best way to the end. I heard at one level that he was attacking, however I used to be already at 2km to go, so I believed I might make it.”
The way it occurred
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
After Tuesday’s chaotic shortened stage, issues returned to regular on Wednesday. Pre-race, this was not alleged to be one of many hardest days, however because of the rearranged stage 16 and a few inclement climate, it became one.
The motion didn’t begin immediately, with a break unable to go up the opening climb, the Passo Sella. This climb was designated because the Cima Coppi, regardless of not being the best level of the race. The dash for the KOM factors was gained by Giulio Pellizzari (VF Group–Bardiani–CSF–Faizanè), narrowly forward of Nairo Quintana (Movistar).
This pair pushed on on the descent, joined by Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Fast-Step) and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Lidl-Trek). The break’s quantity swelled as Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious), Davide Ballerini (Astana Qazaqstan), Georg Steinhauser (EF Schooling-EasyPost), and Marco Frigo (Israel-Premier Tech) all made it throughout earlier than the second climb of the day.
The time hole grew, briefly to over two minutes, on the Passo Rolle, as Nicola Conci (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Attila Valter (Visma-Lease a Bike) additionally went up the highway.
Nevertheless, then dsm-firmenich PostNL began pulling within the peloton, and the break’s benefit shortly got here down. The bunch briefly cut up in two on the descent of the Rolle, earlier than the break was swallowed up on the subsequent climb, the Passo Gobbera.
Dsm-firmenich PostNL tried to launch their chief, Romain Bardet, however this fizzled out.
Within the place of pace-setting, Ghebreigzabhier and Steinhauser as soon as once more escaped from the peloton with round 58km to go, and this became the profitable transfer.
On the penultimate climb, the Passo Brocon’s northern facet, Steinhauser went alone with round 34km to go. He wouldn’t see one other rider once more till the end.
It took till the ultimate ascent of the day, up one other facet of the Brocon, for the GC group to separate up. Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) put in a dig, however was marked, after which Tadej Pogačar (UAE Staff Emirates) attacked within the pink jersey. He shortly pulled out a major hole, however was unable to catch Steinhauser.
Behind, the opposite GC rivals rolled in collectively, shedding a handful of seconds to the race chief. Steinhauser was already celebrating, having taken his maiden professional win at his first Grand Tour.
Outcomes
Giro d’Italia stage 17: Selva di Val Gardena > Passo Brocon (159km)
1. Georg Steinhauser (Deu) EF Schooling-EasyPost, in 4:28:51
2. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Staff Emirates, +1:24
3. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain Victorious, +1:42
4. Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Ineos Grenadiers
5. Daniel Martinez (Col) Bora-Hansgrohe
6. Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar
7. Romain Bardet (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL, all at similar time
8. Thymen Arensman (Ned) Ineos Grenadiers, +1:55
9. Jan Hirt (Cze) Soudal Fast-Step
10. Rafał Majka (Pol) UAE Staff Emirates, all at similar time
Basic classification after stage 17
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Staff Emirates, in 63:31:18
2. Daniel Martínez (Col) Bora-Hansgrohe, +7:42
3. Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Ineos Grenadiers, +8:04
4. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale, +9:47
5. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain Victorious, +10:29
6. Thymen Arensman (Ned) Ineos Grenadiers, +11:10
7. Romain Bardet (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL, +12:42
8. Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar, +13:33
9. Filippo Zana (Ita) Jayco-AIUla, +13:52
10. Jan Hirt (Cze) Soudal Fast-Step, +14:44
