Giro 2017: First attacker Rolland solos to victory, Dumoulin still in pink

At 219 kilometres, the 17th stage of the Giro d'Italia takes in intermediate climbs up to Aprica and the Passo Del Tonale before a never-ending false flat runs to arrival place Canazei. Early attacker Pierre Rolland wins after a strong and smart race, while maglia rosa Tom Dumoulin finishes safely in the peloton. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 17th stage 2017 Giro d’Italia

1. Pierre Rolland (fra)
2. Rui Costa (por) + 0.24
3. Gorka Izagirre (spa) s.t.
4. Rory Sutherland (aus) s.t.
5. Matteo Bosato (ita) s.t.
6. Dries Devenyns (bel) s.t.
7. Felix Grosschartner (aut) s.t.
8. Omar Fraile (spa) s.t.
9. Michael Woods (can) s.t.
10. Julien Bernard (fra) s.t.

GC-contenders at 7.54

GC after 17th stage
1. Tom Dumoulin (nld)
2. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.31
3. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 1.12
4. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 2.38
5. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 2.40
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 3.05
7. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 3.49
8. Bob Jungels (lux) + 4.35
9. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 6.20
10. Jan Polanc (slo) + 6.33

11. Adam Yates (gbr) + 7.00
12. Maxime Monfort (bel) + 7.16
13. Davide Formolo (ita) + 7.17
14. Andrey Amador (crc) + 11.29
15. Dario Cataldo (ita) + 13.26

Race report
Once the flag is dropped Pavel Brutt, Matej Mohoric and Pierre Rolland are off and on the first climb, to Aprica, they race to a lead of 4 minutes. Following a counter-attack by Michal Schlegel, Giulio Ciccone, Julen Amezqueta and Tejay van Garderen the peloton accelerates to reduce the gap. An attack by Firsanov, Cataldo, Woods and Amezqueta is neutralised, too.

Rolland is the first rider in Aprica ahead of Mohoric and then Brutt.

The leaders gain some time in the descent and they hit the Tonale with a 2’28” lead over the peloton. Daniel Teklehaimanot, Valerio Conti and Francisco Ventoso go after them, while they are chased down by a group of 37 riders.

Rolland is the first rider on top of the Tonale. The chasers are almost 3 minutes behind the front group, the peloton is 9 minutes in arrears – a gap that will widen to 14 minutes at one point.

Mohoric descends faster than Rolland and Brutt, although Brutt reunites later on. Rolland drops back to the chase group.

Brutt can’t follow the pace on the climb to Govio and with 60 kms remaining Mohoric is accompanied by his chasers. So Rolland is back in contention, as are the likes of De Plus, Van Garderen, Conti, Costa, Monfort and Polanc. Those two are best placed in GC and for a moment Polanc can dream of the maglia rosa. However, the peloton brings the deficit back to 7 minutes in the never-ending false flat to the line.

After a lot of pseudo-attacks, Rolland is off with 8 kms remaining. On the false flat to the line he digs deep. Little by little the Frenchman opens a gap to grab his first stage win since his triumph in the Queen Stage of the 2012 Tour de France. Behind him Rui Costa is fastest, while Dumoulin finishes safely in the main group.

Route of the 17th stage of the 2017 Giro d’Italia