Giro 2020: OConnor climbs to victory, Almeida still leader

Giro 2020: O’Connor climbs to victory, Almeida still leader

Ben O'Connor climbs to victory in ski resort Madonna di Campiglio. Hermann Pernsteiner finishes in second, while the GC riders reach the finish together. João Almeida stays in the GC lead 17 seconds ahead of Wilco Kelderman. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 17th stage Giro d’Italia 2020

1. Ben O’Connor (aus)
2. Hermann Pernsteiner (aut) + 0.31
3. Thomas De Gendt (bel) + 1.10
4. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 1.13
5. Kilian Frankiny (swi) + 1.55
6. Harm Vanhoucke (bel) + 2.49
7. Davide Vilella (ita) + 3.29
8. Óscar Rodríguez (spa) s.t.
9. Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (eri) + 3.30
10. Jesper Hansen (den) + 4.32

GC after stage 17
1. João Almeida (por)
2. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.17
3. Jai Hindley (aus) + 2.58
4. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) + 2.59
5. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 3.12
6. Rafal Majka (pol) + 3.20
7. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 3.31
8. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 3.52
9. Patrick Konrad (aut) + 4.11
10. Fausto Masnada (ita) + 4.26

Race report
Just before the first climb a group of five – Caicedo, Cataldo, Villella, Armeé and Bais – manages to break clear and they enter the Forcella Valbona climb 30 seconds ahead of the peloton.

On the climb the front of the peloton reaches the five. 18 men push on together: De Gendt, Vanhoucke, Zakarin, Dennis, Guerreiro, Pernsteiner, De la Parte, Rodríguez, Hansen, Carretero, Frankiny, Cataldo, Sepúlveda, Meintjes, O’Connor, Gebreigzabhier, Villella, and Ulissi, while Bouchard tracks the lead group down on the climb.

Guerreiro is the first rider at the summit. He moves into the KOM lead to extend it at the Monte Bondone.

Cataldo goes solo in the descent. Dennis, Vanhoucke, Carretero, O’Connor, Zakari and Ghebreigzabhier rejoin him in the valley before Pernsteiner, De Gendt and Villella bridge across on the Passo Durone. The GC group reaches the summit 8 minutes after the leaders.

O’Connor accelerates on the finish climb, with 8 kilometres to go. Pernsteiner is the first chaser without getting closer.

The 24 year old Australian powers to his first Grand Tour stage win ahead of Pernsteiner and De Gendt, while the GC remains unchanged. Almeida still leads 17 seconds ahead of Kelderman with Hindley in third at almost 3 minutes.

Another interesting read: route 17th stage 2020 Giro d’Italia.