Giro 2017: Fraile brings early break home in thriller, Dumoulin still in pink

In the 11th stage of the 2017 Giro the riders face four tough ascents, while the finish is at the end of a long descent. That's the scene for a thriller of a ride. Omar Fraile is on the attack since the first climb and eventually he sprints to victory. Tom Dumoulin retains in the overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 11th stage 2017 Giro d’Italia

1. Omar Fraile (spa)
2. Rui Costa (por) s.t.
3. Pierre Rolland (fra) s.t.
4. Tanel Kangert (est) s.t.
5. Giovanni Visconti (ita) s.t.
6. Ben Hermans (bel) s.t.
7. Dario Cataldo (ita) s.t.
8. Simone Petilli (ita) s.t.
9. Maxime Monfort (bel) + 0.03
10. Laurens De Plus (bel) s.t.

15. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 1.37
17. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.
18. Thibaut Pinot (fra) s.t.
19. Tom Dumoulin (nld) s.t.
20. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
22. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) s.t.
23. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
24. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
26. Laurens ten Dam (nld) s.t.
28. Bob Jungels (lux) s.t.
29. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 2.25
34. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
109. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 21.20

GC after 11th stage
1. Tom Dumoulin (nld)
2. Nairo Quintana (col) + 2.23
3. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 2.38
4. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 2.40
5. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 2.47
6. Andrey Amador (crc) + 3.05
7. Bob Jungels (lux) + 3.56
8. Tanel Kangert (est) + 3.59
9. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 4.05
10. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 4.17

11. Dario Cataldo (ita) + 5.19
12. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 6.07
13. Davide Formolo (ita) + 6.19
14. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 6.21
15. Rui Costa (por) + 6.29
16. Adam Yates (gbr) + 6.58

Race report
The first climb of the day, the Passo della Consuma, is the tonic to ignite the race. On the lower flanks Movistar sets the pace, thus reducing the peloton, before a group of 25 riders gets clear: Rui Costa, Martijn Keizer, Omar Fraile, Hugh Carty, Maxime Monfort, Davide Villella, Ben Hermans, Mikel Landa, Philip Deignan, Laurens ten Dam, Dario Cataldo, Hubert Dupont, Pierre Rolland, José Joaquín Rojas, Matteo Montaguti, Andrey Amador, Tanel Kangert, Giovanni Visconti, Igor Antón, Ruben Plaza and Laurens De Plus. Just before the top De Plus and Antón head out together and De Plus is the first to crest.

The chasers re-join the two leaders before the next ascent, Passo Della Calla, and on the climb itself Landa attacks with Fraile, who is the fist to crest with a lead of more than 2 minutes over the chasers and 5 minutes ahead of the peloton.

Same situation atop the Passo Del Carnaio. Once again Fraile takes most KOM points.

On the long and last climb, Monte Fumaiolo, the chasing group gobbles up the two leaders. 3 kms before the summit De Plus attacks, while Costa and Rolland cross to his wheel. The French rider heads out on his own on the steeper slopes and Fraile closes the gap to De Plus/Costa and then to Rolland before he is the first to crest.

On the lower slopes Nibali attacks with most GC riders on his wheel, yet Thomas and Kruijswijk are dropped. Then Pinot leaves to crest the top 2 minutes after Fraile. The Frechman is brought back in the descent.

On a small climb in the drop Costa attacks to cross over to Fraile and Rolland, which he does in the ensuing descent. Kangert re-joins in the last 2 kms.

In sight of the line the other chasers make it back to the front group, but then Fraile accelerates. Costa is on his wheel, ready to come out. Yet… not able to come out as Fraile’s pace is too high and the Spaniard powers to victory.

Read about the route of the 11th stage of the 2017 Giro d’Italia.