Giro 2014: Diego Ulissi best on first uphill finish

The first climbs on this year's Giro produced a thrilling finale as the big GC men showed themselves for the first time. It was 24-year old Italian Diego Ulissi however, who outsprinted the bunch of tired climbers. Michael Matthews keeps his GC lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 5th stage Giro 2014

1. Diego Ulissi (Italy)
2. Julián David Arredondo (col) +0.01
3. Cadel Evans (Australia) s.t.
4. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
5. Rafal Majka (Poland) s.t.
6. Michael Matthews (Australia) s.t.
7. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain) s.t.
8. Wilco Kelderman (The Netherlands) s.t.
9. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy) s.t.
10. Nairo Quintana (Colombia) s.t.

GC after stage 5
1. Michael Matthews (Australia )
2. Pieter Weening (The Netherlands) + 0.14
3. Cadel Evans (Australia) + 0.15
4. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia) + 0.19
5. Rafal Majka (Poland) + 0.26
6. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway) + 0.35
7. Nicolas Roche (Ireland) + 0.37
8. Michele Scarponi (Italy) + 0.41
9. Dario Cataldo (Italy) + 0.49
10. Fabio Aru (Italy) + 0.52

Stage report

The first section of today’s stage traveled along the coast and conditions were extremely windy. Nevertheless, after 3 kilometres, 11 riders decide to give it a go and formed a breakaway. The break included sprint trio Elia Viviani (Cannondale), Ben Swift (Team Sky) and Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) as well as Fabian Wegmann (Garmin-Sharp), Miguel Angel Rubiano (Colombia), Tony Hurel and Bjorn Thurau (Europcar), Marco Frapporti (Androni Giocattoli), Yonathan Monsalve (Neri Sottoli), Kenny Dehaes and Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto-Belisol).

Viviani had good reason to be there and by finishing second on an intermediate sprint he takes over the red jersey from Nacer Bouhanni.

The escapees built up a maximum gap of 5’13” and with 20 kilometres left to race the first riders got reeled in. Thurau was the last survivor, his party ending just before cresting the closing climb for the first time.

Gianluca Brambilla attacked on the descent at the beginning of the final lap and quickly gained half a minute. He eventually ran out of steam though in the closing kilometres. After a couple of unsuccessful digs by Pierre Rolland and Nicolas Roche, Katusha’s Dani Moreno and Joaquim Rodríguez managed to force a gap but with Boassen Hagen lurking on their wheels, it slowed somewhat and pink jersey Michael Matthews fought well to bring it back together.

Purito was cooked at this point and Cadel Evans and Diego Ulissi came surging on either side of the bunch. Ulissi’s kick was much more powerful however and he was a few bike lengths clear hitting the line.

Evans took some bonus seconds, lifting him to 3rd in GC while Matthews defended his pink jersey admirably.