Caleb Ewen of the ORICA-SCOTT team won the uphill sprint in today’s seventh stage of the 2017 Giro d’Italia, negotiating a technical finish to steal the win.
Ewen bested Quick-Step Floors Fernando Gavaria, who was going for his third stage win this week, at the line with Ireland’s Sam Bennett of the Bora-Hansgrohe team finishing third. Gavaria will hold on to the ciclamino sprinter’s jersey.
Quick-Step’s Bob Jungels finished the stage with the peloton seconds later to keep his tenuous grasp on the maglia rosa.
The stage was largely flat 217 km ride from Castrovillari that saw a two-man breakaway end with 18 km to race. The finish took place on a technical circuit in Alberobello.
“It’s been a little bit difficult for us in the first part of the Giro d’Italia. I came close and the guys worked really hard, so I’m happy to finally win,” said Ewan.
“It was a really close sprint. I had to do some work with three kilometres to go so I was a little tired for the sprint. But Luka (Mezgec) did a great lead out, so it was perfect.”
Ewan was in contention for the sprint during the second stage of the race, but lost his pedal just as he attacked.
Saturday’s 8th stage is a rolling 189 km ride from Molfetta to Peschici that should give rouleurs some advantage while favoring sprinters with uphill finishing abilities at the end.
2017 Giro d’Italia – Stage 7 Brief Results:
- Caleb Ewan (Australia / Orica) 5:35:18″
- Fernando Gaviria (Colombia / Quick-Step) ST
- Sam Bennett (Ireland / BORA)
- Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto)
- Jasper Stuyven (Belgium / Trek)
- Ryan Gibbons (South Africa / Dimension Data)
- Enrico Battaglin (Italy / LottoNL) +2″
- Ruediger Selig (Germany / BORA)
- Alexey Tsatevich (Russia / Gazprom)
- Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Bahrain)
2017 Giro d’Italia – General Classification After Stage 7:
- Bob Jungels (Luxembourg / Quick-Step) 33:56:07″
- Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky) +6″
- Adam Yates (Britain / Orica) +10″
- Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Bahrain)
- Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R)
- Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands / Sunweb)
- Nairo Quintana (Colombia / Movistar)
- Bauke Mollema (Netherlands / Trek)
- Andrey Amador (Costa Rica / Movistar)
- Tejay van Garderen (U.S. / BMC Racing)
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