Giro 2019: Ciccone outsprints Hirt, Carapaz cements lead

The 16th stage on the Giro d Italia is an exhausting test with 4,800 vertical metres. In rainy conditions Giulio Ciccone outguns Jan Hirt on the line, while Richard Carapaz stays in the GC lead and Nibali overhauls Roglic on GC. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 16th stage Giro d’Italia 2019

1. Giulio Ciccone (ita)
2. Jan Hirt (cze) s.t.
3. Fausto Masnada (ita) + 1.20
4. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 1.41
5. Hugh Carthy (gbr) + s.t.
6. Richard Carapaz (ecu) s.t.
7. Mikel Landa (spa) s.t.
8. Joe Dombrowski (usa) s.t.
9. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 1.49
10. Mattia Cattaneo (ita) + 2.03

11. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 2.03
12. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 3.03
14. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
15. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
16. Pavel Sivakov (rus) + 3.44
21. Rafal Majka (pol) + 4.46
22. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.
25. Jan Polanc (slo) + 5.35

GC after stage 16
1. Richard Carapaz (ecu)
2. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 1.47
3. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 2.09
4. Mikel Landa (spa) + 3.15
5. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 5.00
6. Rafal Majka (pol) + 5.40
7. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 6.17
8. Simon Yates (gbr) + 6.46
9. Pavel Sivakov (rus) + 7.51
10. Jan Polanc (slo) + 8.06

11. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 10.02
13. Hugh Carthy (gbr) + 14.38

Race report
Villella, Schwarzman, Honoré, Juul-Jensen and Hindley are the first attackers. Amador, Bilbao, Dombrowski, Nieve, Ciccone, Hirt, Bouwman, Ulissi, Masnada, Bidard, Cattaneo, Caruso, Nibali (Antonio), Owsian, Ventoso and Brown jump across.

Ciccone is the first rider to crest the climbs to Cevo and Aprica to extend his KOM lead.

The front group tackles the Mortirolo 6 minutes ahead of the peloton. Hirt and Ciccone are the last men standing on the climb. López, Yates, Majka and Sivakov are struggling in the main group when Nibali speeds up. Carthy tracks him down on the steep slopes.

Carapaz, Landa and López are the first chasers for most of the climb, while Roglic drops back before he is caught by the group Yates.

In pouring rain Nibali/Carthy/Carapaz/Landa/López come together in the last kilometres before the top. López jumps clear and joins his team mate Bilbao. Ciccone takes most KOM points ahead of Hirt. The chasing group is 4 minutes in arrears. Roglic reaches the summit 1.45 minutes after the maglia rosa group together with Yates and Mollema.

Stable gaps in the valley. Ciccone and Hirt are 4 minutes ahead of Bilbao/López with the maglia rosa 30 seconds further behind.

When Caruso waits for his leader Nibali the chase group gobble up López, who is dropped in the last kilometres.

Ciccone outguns Hirt in Ponte di Legno, while Masnada crosses the line in third place. The maglia rosa group finishes at 1.41 minutes with Roglic 1.22 further behind.

Carapaz is now leading the Giro 1.47 ahead of Nibali and 2.09 minutes ahead of Roglic.

Another interesting read: route 16th stage 2019 Giro d’Italia.