Crafty teamwork helps Trentin win longest Giro stage

Associated PressMay 26, 2016, 4:17 PM EDT

PINEROLO, Italy — Matteo Trentin used a late counterattack and some crafty teamwork to win the longest stage of the Giro d’Italia on Thursday, while Steven Kruijswijk held on to a comfortable overall lead with only two challenging legs to go.

Cannondale’s Moreno Moser and Trentin’s Etixx Quick-Step teammate Gianluca Brambilla were in the lead approaching the finish line when Trentin bridged the gap from a chasing group. Brambilla was told by radio that Trentin was coming while Moser wasn’t aware, allowing Trentin to burst past and claim his third victory in a Grand Tour.

“It was a win built with teamwork,” said Trentin, who also won two stages in the Tour de France, in 2013 and 2014, plus the Paris-Tours single-day classic last year. “I was sure that sooner or later a stage for me would come.”

Moser finished second and Brambilla crossed third, both with the same time as Trentin — nearly 5 1/2 hours. All three Italians were part of an early breakaway.

The main pack with Kruijswijk and the other leaders finished more than 13 minutes behind in the 18th stage, a 244-kilometer (152-mile) leg from Muggio to Pinerolo.

The route started out flat but concluded with some steep hills and a dangerous descent before flattening out again shortly before the finish.

With his open jersey revealing his bare chest, Trentin had time to celebrate as he coasted over the line.

“I tried to play it cool and keep Moser a little bit tired to keep him in the front,” Brambilla said. “I saw a blue jersey coming around so I stopped helping Moser, I just stayed in the wheel and we managed to get the victory. I’m really happy for Matteo.”

It was the fourth victory for the Etixx team after Marcel Kittel won the opening two sprints and Brambilla took Stage 8. Kittel and Brambilla also wore the overall leader’s pink jersey briefly.

Kruijswijk leads Esteban Chaves by 3 minutes, with Alejandro Valverde 3:23 behind in third.

There are two challenging mountain stages Friday and Saturday before the 99th edition of the race ends in Turin on Sunday.

Stage 19 Friday features the Colle dell’Agnello pass, the highest point of the race at an altitude of 2,744 meters (9,000 feet). Organizers cleared meters (yards) of snow off the pass earlier this week.

“I’m getting closer every day to winning the Giro,” Kruijswijk said. “Tomorrow it looks like a good stage for me. I like long climbs. Maybe I can do something. After finishing second three times, I’d like a stage win as well but firstly I’ll defend the Maglia Rosa (pink jersey).”

Thomas sees Giro d’Italia lead cut slightly by Roglič; Buitrago wins Stage 19

Associated PressMay 26, 2023, 7:13 PM EDT

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TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO, Italy — Geraint Thomas maintained his bid to become the oldest Giro d’Italia champion although his lead was cut slightly by Primož Roglič during the toughest stage of the race.

Roglič crossed the summit finish of the so-called “Queen Stage” three seconds ahead of Thomas at the end of the race’s final mountain road leg.

There were no flat sections and five tough, classified climbs on the 114-mile route from Longarone to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, which had gradients of up to 18%.

Stage 19 was won by Santiago Buitrago, who finished 51 seconds ahead of Derek Gee and 1 minute, 46 seconds ahead of Magnus Cort and Roglič, who just missed out on bonus seconds.

“I’m really happy with this victory. It was the most difficult moment of a difficult Giro for me personally,” said Buitrago, who rides for Bahrain Victorious. “I wanted to try and raise my arms before the end and coming here at Tre Cime di Lavaredo is amazing.

“This is the recompense for all the work that I’ve done. … There’s a lot of motivation for me and the whole team having seen the fruits of our labors.”

The 37-year-old Thomas, who rides for Ineos Grenadiers, is 26 seconds ahead of Roglič going into what will be a decisive penultimate stage

Third-placed João Almeida lost more time and was 59 seconds behind Thomas.

Roglič changed his bicycle shortly before the start of the penultimate climb and he made his move inside the final kilometer. However, Thomas was able to stick to his wheel and the British cyclist made his own attack in the final 500 meters and looked to have slightly distanced his rival.

But Roglič came back and gained what could be a vital few seconds.

The winner will likely be decided in the mountain time trial that ends in a demanding climb up Monte Lussari, with an elevation of over 3,000 feet and gradients of up to 22%.

“Tomorrow we go full again,” Roglič said. “It’s good. We got a bit of legs back, so tomorrow we go full, eh?

“If I wouldn’t be confident then I don’t start. The best one at the end wins.”

The race ends in a mostly ceremonial finish in Rome, where Thomas could beat the age record held by Fiorenzo Magni, who was 34 when he won in 1955.

Thomas celebrates 37th birthday by retaining Giro d’Italia lead; Roglic into 2nd

Associated PressMay 25, 2023, 12:28 PM EDT

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VAL DI ZOLDO, Italy — Geraint Thomas celebrated his 37th birthday with another strong ride in the mountains to retain the pink jersey during Stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia.

Thomas crossed immediately behind Primoz Roglic, who moved up from third place to second.

“The legs have been good,” Thomas said. “Need to enjoy these moments.”

Joao Almeida dropped from second to third overall after losing 21 seconds over the 100-mile route from Oderzo to Val di Zoldo, which included two first-category climbs followed by two second-category climbs in the finale – including an uphill finish.

Thomas – the 2018 Tour de France champion – leads Roglic by 29 seconds and Almeida by 39 seconds.

“It’s a pleasant day. I take time on Almeida and didn’t get dropped by Primoz,” Thomas said. “I felt pretty good, always under control but Primoz obviously went hard. It wasn’t easy. … I just want to be consistent until the end.”

Italian champion Filippo Zanna won the stage ahead of fellow breakaway rider Thibaut Pinot in a two-man sprint.

With only two more climbing stages remaining before the mostly ceremonial finish in Rome, Thomas is poised to become the oldest Giro winner in history – beating the record of Fiorenzo Magni, who was 34 when he won in 1955.

Chris Horner holds the record for oldest Grand Tour champion, set when he won the Spanish Vuelta in 2013 at 41.

However, Thomas will still be tested over the next two days.

Stage 19 is considered perhaps the race’s toughest, a 114-mile leg from Longarone to Tre Cime Di Lavaredo featuring five major climbs. Then there’s a mountain time trial.