The 2018 Giro d’Italia hit the mainland today in a nearly flat 159km stage from Pizzo to Praia a Mare in southern Italy. All eyes were on Elia Viviani to go for another sprint win today but he was nipped at the line by BORA-hansgrohe’s Sam Bennett.
Simon Yates started the day in the maglia rosa after yesterday’s spectacular 1-2 effort from the Mitchelton-Scott squad atop Mt. Etna.
Italian Eduardo Zardini did not start the race today. The Wilier Triestina rider crashed during Stage 6 and toughed it out to the finish, but was diagnosed with a broken collarbone later in the day.
The day’s escape belonged to Davide Ballerini (Androni Giocattoli), Maxime Belkov (Katusha-Alpecin) and Markel Irizar (Trek Segafredo). As usual, no one really expected any of these guys to make a dent today, but Quick Step Floors was still taking no chances, putting Remi Cavagna at the front of the peloton to keep the tempo high. Still, Ballerini is going after every intermediate sprint point that he can gain, with Viviani jumping off the front of the peloton at the sprint markets to pad his lead in the maglia ciclamino classification.
Sacha Modolo was also a favorite for the sprint today and his EF-Drapac team members were occasionally making themselves seen at the front of the peloton as well.
Belkov and Irizar throw in the towel at 16km while Ballerini fought for every second of TV exposure he could gain him team. Five riders, including Tony Martin, attacked, but were reeeled back in.
The catch happens and it’s LottoNL-Jumbo, Bahrain-Merida, Ag2R-La Mondiale, EF-Drapac and Bardiani all trying to hold the front of the pack.
The speed hits nearly 80kph in the final kilometers. With some tricky turns inside of 2km, things were looking to get shaky. EF-Drapac, Lotto-Fix All, Trek-Segafredo and a surging Quick Step begin to assert themselves.
With 1km to go, it was all BORA-hansgrohe and Quick Step. Danny Van Poppel, Elia Viviani and Sam Bennett all were riding their respective sprint trains.
Viviani looked to have it, but in the end, Irishman Bennett held off everyone for the win.
Speaking seconds after the stage finish, the stage winner Sam Bennett said: “I feel relieved with this first Grand Tour victory. I’ve been so close so many times in the Giro. With so many fast sprinters here, timing was the key and also taking Viviani’s wheel. It’s not easy to beat him!”
Giro d’Italia 2018 – 101th edition – stage 7
The race leader Simon Yates said: “It was a good first day in Maglia Rosa, relaxed at the start. A good breakaway went very fast. For us as a team it was perfect. A bit stressful at the final as always but ok. Tomorrow if I have the legs I might try something. I still need to get some time on Tom Dumoulin and some other guys who are better time trialists than me.”
2018 Giro d’Italia Stage 7 Brief Results:
- Sam Bennett (BORA-Hansgrohe) at 3h 45’27”
- Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) s.t.
- Niccolo Bonifazio (Bahrain-Merida) s.t.
- Sacha Modolo (EF-Drapac) s.t.
- Danny Van Poppel (LottoNL-Jumbo) s.t.
General Classification After Stage 7:
- Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott)
- Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) at 16″
- Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton – Scott) at 26″
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