Roset jersey Isaac del Toro resisted two attacks by challenger Richard Carapaz in the Giro d’Italia in a very heavy mountain ride on Friday. Simon Yates was the big loser and lost half a minute. The stage victory was for Frenchman Nicolas Prodhomme.
Much was expected in advance from the nineteenth stage, which with 4,900 altimeters and five climbs on paper was the toughest ride of this edition of the Giro. The fireworks only ignited on the final climb.
Carapaz Demarried and classification leader Del Toro was the only rider to follow. Yates, the number three of the general classification, had to fit and lost half a minute. This makes the pink far out of sight for him.
Del Toro won the sprint of Carapaz and, if possible, gathered important bonus seconds. That was not enough for the stage victory, which went to Prodhomme. The Frenchman was the only one left to have a large leading group, including Thymen Arensman and Wout van Aert, among others.
The battle for pink will be decided on Saturday when the last mountain rit is on the role. Del Toro defends a 43 -second lead on number two Carapaz. Yates follows 1 minute and 21 seconds. In the flat final ride on Sunday by Rome there are usually no shifts in the rankings.
Arensman has to release quickly from the leading group
The opening hour of the heavy nineteenth ride promised much good for the battle for the pink sweater in the Giro d’Italia. The battle for the flight of the day before the Alpenrit was intense from the start.
In the scorching heat it took more than an hour for a large group to get the blessing. The riders had already traveled 47 kilometers. In that large group, alongside Arensman and Van Aert, among others, Bart Lemmen, Wilco Kelderman and Milan Vader rode.
Arensman was the best climber among the Dutch on paper, but he had to release from the leading group early. The rider of Ineos Grenadiers has been struggling with knee problems in the last days after a fall.
Behind it the classification riders stopped. The UAE Team Emirates of classification leader Del Toro and the Visma-Lease A Bike from Yates kept the pace high, which made it difficult to escape.
Carapaz and Del Toro are going
Just before the top of the penultimate climb, Carapaz still tried his luck, but he immediately had del Toro and Yates in his wheel. The Ecuadorian then stopped his struggle. In the meantime, Prodhomme had driven away from the leading group, on the way to a long solo.
The not too steep final climb did not seem like a climb to make the difference, but Carapaz thought differently. Again he tried to crack del Toro, but again the Mexican could convincingly follow the wheel of his challenger.
Del Toro did see Yates dropping out, but for the cycling fabrics it was no reason to take over from Carapaz. The latter did not take any gas back. He saw the failure attempt as an ideal opportunity to put Yates behind.
He succeeded in that setup. While Prodhomme came across the line in the pink smoke, Del Toro and Carapaz sprinted for the bonus seconds. Del Toro won it again, which may already be a small tap for Carapaz towards the all -deciding ride on Saturday.
Pink Jersey Wearer Isaac del Toro Withstood Two Attacks from Challenger Richard Carapaz in a Tough Mountain Stage in The Giro d’Italia on Friday. Simon Yates was the Big Loser and Lost half a minute. The Stage Win Went to Frenchman Nicolas Prodhomme.
Much was expected in Advance of the NineteENTH Stage, which with 4,900 meters of altitude and five climbs on paper was the toughest stage of this edition of the giro. The Fireworks Only Ignited on the Final Climb.
Carapaz Attacked and General Classification Leader del Toro was the only Rider Able to Follow. Yates, Number Three in the General Classification, had to pass and Lost half a minute. As a result, the pink is far out of sight for him.
Del Toro won the sprint from carapaz and collected potentialy important bonus seconds. That was not Enough for the Stage Win, which gets used to prodhomme. The Frenchman was The Only One Left from a Large Leading Group, which included Thymen Arensman and Wout van Aert.
The battle for the pink will be decided on Saturday, when the last mountain stage is on the roll. Del Toro Defends A Lead or 43 Seconds over Number Two Carapaz. Yates follows at 1 minute and 21 seconds. There are usual no shifts in the classification in the flat final stage through Rome.
Arensman Has to Drop Out of Leading Group Quickly
The opening Hour of the Grueling NineteENTH Stage Promised Well for the Battle for the Pink Jersey in the Giro d’Italia. The Battle for the Flight of the Day for the Alpine Stage was intense from the start.
In The Sweltertering Heat, It Toke More Than An Hour Before a Large Group was blessed. The Riders had Already Covered 47 kilometers. In that Large Group, in Addition to Arensman and van Aert, Were Bart Lemmen, Wilco Kelderman and Milan Vader.
Arensman was on paper the best climber among the Dutch, but he had to drop out of the leading group early. The Rider from Ineos Grenadiers Has Been Struggling with Knee Complaints in recent days after a fall.
Behind Them, The Classification Riders Kept Their Legs Still. The Uae Team Emirates of Classification Leader del Toro and the Visma-Lease A Bike of Yates Kept The Pace High, Making It Difficult to Escape.
Carapaz and del Toro Strike
Just before the top of the Penultimate Climb, Carapaz Still Tried His Luck, but he immediately had del Toro and Yates in His Wheel. The Ecuadorian Then Stopped His Fight. Meanwhile, Prodhomme had Ridden Away from the Leading Group, on his way to a long solo.
The not-to-steep Final Climb Did Not Seem Like A Climb to Make the Difference, But Carapaz Thought Differently About That. Again he tried to crack del Toro, but again the mexican convincingly followed his challenger’s wheel.
Del Toro Did See Yates Drop Out, but for the cycling phenomenon that was no reason to take over the lead from carapaz. The Letter Did Not Step Back. He saw the attack attempt as an iDeal opportunity to put yates further bewind.
He succeeded in that. While Prodhomme Crossed the Line Cheering in The Pink Smoke, del Toro and Carapaz Sprinted Behind Him for the Bonus Seconds. Del Toro won again, which may already be a small tap for carapaz Towards the decisive stage on Saturday.