Giro 2018 Stage 17: Viviani outsprints Bennet, Yates still in pink

The 17th stage of the Giro d'Italia starts out as a hilly race to continue on the flat. Following an action-packed first 100 kilometres the race comes down to a bunch sprint in Iseo. Elia Viviani powers to his fourth win, while Simon Yates is still the overall leader. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 17th stage 2018 Giro d’Italia

1. Elia Viviani (ita)
2. Sam Bennett (irl) s.t.
3. Niccolo Bonifazio (ita) s.t.
4. Danny van Poppel (nld) s.t.
5. Jens Debusschere (bel) s.t.
6. Kristian Sbaragli (ita) s.t.
7. Jean-Pierre Drucker (lux) s.t.
8. Sacha Modolo (ita) s.t.
9. Andrea Vendrame (ita) s.t.
10. José Goncalves (por) s.t.

GC after the 17th stage
1. Simon Yates (gbr)
2. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 0.56
3. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 3.11
4. Chris Froome (gbr) + 3.50
5. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 4.19
6. Rohan Dennis (aus) + 5.04
7. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 5.37
8. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 6.02
9. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 6.07
10. George Bennett (nzl) + 7.01

11. Patrick Konrad (aut) + 7.13
12. Ben O’Connor (aus) + 7.33
13. Sam Oomen (nld) + 8.05
14. Carlos Betancur (col) + 8.56
15. Alexandre Geniez (fra) + 9.48
16. Davide Formolo (ita) + 10.03
17. Wout Poels (nld) + 10.04

Race report
Attacks are flying from the start. Two large breaks try to distance the peloton, but just before the climb to Lodrino – with almost 100 kms to go – it’s gruppo compatto again. Then Hermans takes off and LL Sánchez, Elissonde, De Marchi, Visconti, Schachmann, Geniez and Poels bridge across. The eight reach Lodrino 25 seconds ahead of the pack.

Just before the last climb of the day, with 66 kms left, the front group is almost brought back. Then Poels, De Marchi, Hermans and LL Sánchez give it another go to widen the gap to half a minute.

Back on the flat the four extend the lead to almost 2 minutes before the sprint teams up the pace in the peloton. They bring the gap down to less than 20 seconds with 20 kms to go. Poels stops his efforts, while Alessandro De Marchi and Louis León Sánchez once again speed up and drop Ben Hermans. Yet, with 12 kms left the two are also brought back.

Brambilla attacks 9 kms before the line with Gesink on his wheel. Benedetti, Stybar and Henao jump across. The peloton gobbles them up after 3 kms. An attack by Lammertink is neutralized, too.

In the ensuing – and rain-soaked – sprint Elia Viviani powers to his fourth victory, besting Sam Bennett and Niccolo Bonifazio.

Simon Yates finishes safely in the peloton and is one day closer to the overall victory.

Tomorrow’s stage runs on the flat to a summit finish after a 13.9 kilometres climb at 6.9%.