Nairo Quitana (Movistar) dio un fuerte golpe de autoridad en el Giro de Italia con una victoria de mando en Blockhaus para ganar la novena etapa de la carrera y tomar la maglia rosa.
A pesar de que Thibaut Pinot (FD) y Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Mérida) pudieron mantenerse durante varias oleadas iniciales, ambos fueron impotentes cuando Quintana aceleró a unos 5 kilómetros del final.
El decisivo ataque de Quitana agrietó completamente a Nibali, dejando a Pinot, Tom Dumoulin y Bauke Mollema para dirigir una breve pelea. Con 2.000 metros de ventaja, Quintana mantuvo una diferencia de 25 segundos y esa ventaja se redujo a un segundo en la línea con Pinot terminando en segundo lugar, y Dumoulin tercero, antes de segundos extras.
Mollema terminó cuarto en el día, mientras que su favorito Nibali se quedó quinto, 59 segundos detrás de Quintana.
Nairo Quitana (Movistar) stamped his authority all over the Giro d’Italia with a commanding win on Blockhaus to take stage 9 of the race and the maglia rosa.
The Colombian attacked several times on the brutal ascent, and although Thibaut Pinot (FD) and Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Merida) were able to hold during several initial surges, both were powerless when Quintana accelerated away with around 5 kilometres to go.
Quitana’s decisive attack cracked Nibali completely, leaving Pinot, Tom Dumoulin and Bauke Mollema to lead a brief fight back. With 2,000 meters to go Quintana held a 25 second lead and that advantage was reduced by one second on the line with Pinot finishing second, and Dumoulin third, before bonus seconds.
Mollema finished fourth on the day, while home favourite Nibali took fifth, 59 seconds down on Quintana.
Bob Jungels (QuickStep Floors) was unable to retain his overnight lead and was dropped on the early slopes of the climb. While Quintana took the spoils, and the lead, the stage was marked by a huge crash that took down Geraint Thomas, Mikel Landa and Adam Yates. The trio were among the fallers after a rider clipped a poorly placed race motorbike on the lower slopes of the final climb. Thomas and Yates started the day in the top three but were left on the deck and from their both riders were forced to limit their losses.
cyclingnews.com