Giro dItalia 2016 Stage 13: Nieve soloes to glory in third mountain stage, Amador new overall leader

Giro d’Italia 2016 Stage 13: Nieve soloes to glory in third mountain stage, Amador new overall leader

In stage 13 the riders are to crest four peaks, yet the finish is in the valley - 13 kilometres after the last top. Mikel Nieve is the strongest climber in the break of the day and he soloes to victory. Bob Jungels is dropped on the last climb, and he is forced to hand over the pink jersey to Andrey Amador. Nibali bests Valverde in the sprint for third place and now sits in third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 13th stage Giro d’Italia

1. Mikel Nieve (spa)
2. Giovanni Visconti (ita) + 0.43
3. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 1.17
4. Alejandro Valverde (rus) s.t.
5. Rafal Majka (pol) s.t.
6. Stefan Denifl (aut) s.t.
7. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
8. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
9. Matteo Montaguti (ita) s.t.
10. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) s.t.

13. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
14. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.
15. Andrey Amador (crc) s.t.
17. Bob Jungels (lux) + 2.17

GC after stage 13
1. Andrey Amador (crc)
2. Bob Jungels (lux) + 0.26
3. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) 0.41
4. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.43
5. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
6. Rafal Majka (pol) + 1.37
7. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 2.01
8. Esteban Chaves (col) + 2.19
9. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 2.48
10. Jakob Fuglsang (den + 3.15

11. Gianluca Brambilla (ita) +3.21
12. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 3.37
13. Giovanni Visconti (ita) + 3.55
14. Ryder Hesjedal (can) + 4.48

Race results
Shortly after the start lone escapee Tobias Ludvigsson tries to get clear, but to no avail. But he sets the tone and attacks are everywhere in the first hour of racing.

With over 40 kms done a big group finally hits the jackpot. A lot of sprinters aboard, but they are dropped at the Montemaggiore. Halfway the climb Stefan Denifl goes solo and he is the first two crest, 1 minute ahead of Visconti and Cunego, who thus cements his KOM-lead. Same story at the second climb, the Crai: Denifl is the first to crest, still enjoying a 1 minute lead over the chasing group, spearheaded by Cunego. In the drop Denifl waits for the chasers, making a front group of 24: Mohoric, Bole, Moser, Navardauskas, Battaglin, Rojas, Sütterlin, Dombrowski, Ulissi, Koshevoy, Malacarne, Montaguti, Zeyts, Atapuma, Henao, Boaro, Busato, Van Zyl, Venter and Nieve.

At the Cima Porzus Nieve and Dombrowski leave the others alone. Nieve goes soloes and Visconti joins Visconti. At the top they are half a minute down on the leader. KOM-leader Cunego is fourth.

In the descent Montaguti joins the chasers, who are 40 seconds down when hitting the last climb. Visconti opens the chase, while Jungels is dropped on the lower slopes Jungels after a triple attack by Chaves, Valverde and Nibali.

Nieve is the first to crest, 1 minute ahead of Visconti and 2 minutes ahead of the group with GC favourites. Bob Jungels is almost 3 minutes adrift.

The Luxemburger gives it all he has got to hold on to his jersey, but he falls 26 seconds short. Mikel Nieve wins the stage and Andrey Amador is the new man in pink.

While Visconti finishes in second, Nibali bests Valverde in the sprint for third place – and prestige – and a time bonus at 4 seconds.