Giro 2017: Quintana solos to victory and pink on Blockhaus

The 9th stage of the Tour d'Italia sees the first GC battle with Quintana soloing to an impressive victory on Blockhaus. Pinot comes in second, Dumoulin in third, while Thomas crashes before hitting the climb. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 9th stage 2017 Giro d’Italia

1. Nairo Quintana (col)
2. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.24
3. Tom Dumoulin (nld) s.t.
4. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 0.41
5. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 1.00
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 1.18
7. Tanel Kangert (est) + 2.02
8. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 2.14
9. Sebastien Reichenbach (fra) + 2.28
10. Davide Formolo (ita) + 2.35

11. Andrey Amador (Cri) + 2.43
12. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
13. Dario Cataldo (ita) + 2.35
15. Bob Jungels (lux) + 3.30
16. Ben Hermans (bel) + 3.46
17. Tejay van Garderen (usa) s.t.
23. Adam Yates (gbr) + 4.39
29. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 5.08

GC after 9th stage
1. Nairo Quintana (col)
2. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.28
3. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 0.30
4. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 0.51
5. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 1.10
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 1.28
7. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 2.28
8. Davide Formolo (ita) + 2.45
9. Andrey Amador (Cri) + 2.53
10. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 3.06

11. Tanel Kangert (est) + 3.15
12. Bob Jungels (lux) + 3.30
13. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 3.56
16. Adam Yates (gbr) + 4.49
17. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 5.14

Race report
Shortly after the start Keisse, Marcato, Montaguti, Busato, Fraile, Sanchez, Tcaatevich, Pedersen and Tratnik break clear. Pierre Rolland, Tomasz Marczynski and Sacha Modolo cross over after a long chase, but as Movistar pulls the field the gap never widens to more than 3 minutes. With 22 kms to go Marczynski and Tratnik are the last escapees to be reeled in.

Just before tackling the Blockhaus Geraint Thomas, Adam Yates, Wilco Kelderman and Mikel Landa hit the tarmac. Movistar pushes on. Maglia Rosa Jungels can’t follow the pace with 9 kms to climb. Van Garderen, Zakarin and Formolo are next.

With 7 kms to go Quintana accelerates and Nibali and Pinot jump to his wheel. Kruijswijk is dropped from the chasing group with Dumoulin, Mollema and Pozzovivo.

Just before the steepest sector, with almost 5 kms to go, Quintana heads out on his own. Pinot leaves Nibali at 3.5 kms before the top, while Mollema and Dumoulin chase down the Italian, who can’t follow their rhythm. The Dutchmen re-join Pinot, but Mollema has to let go later on.

Quintana flies to victory, almost half a minute ahead of Pinot and Dumoulin.

Check out the route of the 9th stage in the 2017 Giro.