After two weeks of relative stalemate, the Giro d’Italia contenders lastly began to indicate some cracks on stage 16 to Monte Bondone.
Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) was fast to leap throughout to João Almeida (UAE Group Emirates) when he attacked within the last kilometres of the wickedly tough ascent. Whereas the Portuguese rider had a stronger dash and gained the stage, Thomas moved again into the race lead after giving up the maglia rosa to the breakaway on stage 14.
Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) was the one rider left with a teammate within the choose group however confirmed an uncharacteristic incapacity to comply with the transfer and misplaced 25 seconds plus the time bonus distinction on the stage.
The cagey Slovenian remains to be one among solely three riders realistically nonetheless in competition for the Trofeo Senza High-quality when the race reaches Rome on Sunday, with Thomas, Almeida and Roglič simply 29 seconds aside.
With stage 19‘s huge finale on the punishing grades to Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the mountain time trial on Monte Lussari nonetheless to come back, not one of the riders within the high 10 can really feel comfy with their positions.
Professional biking photographer Chris Auld was there to witness all of the motion on stage 16 of the Giro d’Italia. Take pleasure in his photographs in full-width glory beneath.
Soudal-Quickstep, having misplaced GC contender Remco Evenepoel to COVID-19 earlier than the primary relaxation day, have been decimated and began stage 16 with solely two riders – Ilan Van Wilder and Pieter Serry.
British champion Mark Cavendish, who introduced he would retire after this season, was a well-liked determine in the beginning
The tifosi out in power in the beginning of stage 16 of the Giro d’Italia 2023
Sabbio Chiese gives a serene backdrop for the start of the race
The followers donned pink shirts and hats to welcome the Giro d’Italia
Eye on the prize: The Trofeo Senza High-quality is at all times current on the sign-on
Mark Cavendish queues as much as signal on along with his Astana teammates
Mark Cavendish indicators his title on the beginning grid earlier than stage 16
Ilan Van Wilder and Pieter Serry head to signal on
A clean slate prepared for all of the riders to register
The signal on ceremony is a long-held custom in professional biking
Ben Healy traces up along with his EF Schooling-EasyPost teammates
The tv helicopter hovers over the peloton as they snake their method alongside Lake Garda
The peloton enter a tunnel throughout stage 16
Race chief Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ) descends within the bunch
Jasha Sütterlin (Bahrain Victorious) descends within the autobus
Mark Cavendish reveals how arduous the riders within the gruppetto need to work to make the time minimize with some aggressive cornering
On the entrance it comes right down to a duel between Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and João Almeida (UAE Group Emirates) on the summit end of Mount Bondone
Almeida takes the stage whereas second for Thomas meant he reclaimed the general race lead forward of the UAE Group Emirates rider
Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) comes over the road subsequent with Eddie Dunbar (Jayco-AlUla), shifting the pair into third and fifth on the GC standings
Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) was fifth atop Monte Bondone forward of a bunch of 5 led by Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal-QuickStep), which included Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) who’s fourth general
Lennard Kämna (Bora-Hansgrohe) eleventh on the stage and sixth on GC
Hugh Carthy (EF Schooling-EasyPost) stays simply out of the highest ten after coming twelfth on stage 16
Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious) tried his luck within the break however completed seventeenth after it was reeled in on Mount Bondone
Stage 16 delivered an finish to the maglia rosa stint of Bruno Armirail, with the Groupama-FDJ rider shedding 4:24 after being dropped on the decrease slopes of the ultimate climb
Podium celebrations for the stage winner, Almeida
Ben Healy (EF Schooling-EasyPost) stepped into the climbers jersey after chasing factors whereas within the break
Lead recaptured for Thomas, who heads into stage 17 with the maglia rosa, 18 seconds on Almeida and 29 on Roglič
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