The Italian rider Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) won Stage 13 of the 101st Giro d’Italia – 180km between Ferrara and Nervesa della Battaglia. Sam Bennett (Bora – Hansgrohe) and Danny Van Poppel (Team Lotto NL – Jumbo) finished second and third, respectively.
Simon Yates (Mitchelton – Scott) remains the race General Classification leader, wearing the Maglia Rosa.
Quick-Step Floors rode a flawless race on Friday, controlling the breakaway with the likes of Rémi Cavagna and Eros Capecchi, before sending the latter up the road to counter a late attack from the peloton, just ahead of the Montello climb, which 33 years ago was used on the route of the World Championships. That move forced other teams to chase both the group and the escapees, who were reeled in over the top of the ascent.
With five kilometers to go, as the teams began jostling for position, the Quick-Step Floors boys kept their composure and patiently waited for the flamme rouge arch, before moving Elia Viviani to the front, while at the same time keeping Zdenek Stybar on his wheel to prevent any of the rival sprinters from using his slipstream.
After being expertly dropped on the wheel of Sacha Modolo (EF Education First), the 29-year-old Italian struck out from 200 meters to go and left everyone else trailing, winning by more than a bike length over Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe) and Danny van Poppel (LottoNL-Jumbo); as a result, Viviani took his season haul to nine victories and extended his lead in the cyclamen jersey standings to 40 points.
Speaking seconds after the stage finish, the stage winner and Maglia Ciclamino, Elia Viviani, said: “It’s amazing to be back after a few difficult days. This is what I needed and what my team deserved for the great job they have done. I had two or three bad days but I remained determined to keep the Maglia Ciclamino. Sport is made of dreams, good and bad moments..”
There was no need to think too much about yesterday or two days ago when I rode for 200km with [Esteban] Chaves,” Viviani added in the post-race press conference. “I’ve had two bad days but it was more important to note what Bennett did in those two days: he was third in Gualdo Tadino and only [Peter] Sagan or [Fernando] Gaviria are able to sprint for 400 metres like he did today. Yesterday I was really empty. I was really cold, I couldn’t do anything. I haven’t done a Grand Tour in two and half years – it might have impacted my performances. Today we rode like in any other sprinters’ stages. Rémi Cavagna pulled all day with Eros Capecchi. The others rode to the finale. Michael Morkov took the role of Fabio Sabatini who had a mechanical. This is my nicest and most emotional victory at the Giro because this morning I was nervous as I didn’t know if my legs would support me or not. I’m glad they did and my lead of 40 points in the Maglia Ciclamino is more comfortable than the 22 that we had yesterday. I’ll have six team-mates again to help me make the time cut tomorrow.”
The race leader, Simon Yates, said: “Until the latest possible moment I tried to stay safe. The big guys in the team did a great job just keeping me at the front. It’s been the easiest day we’ve had so far. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
“We’ve already done some high mountains in this Giro but, tomorrow, it’s gonna be difficult,” Yates said at the press conference. “I don’t know the Zoncolan, I’ve never reckonned it – I’ve only seen it on TV. I hope to have good legs and, if so, I’ll try something. It’s been a hard race every day, except today – everyone is tired and everyone is talking about the Zoncolan. But if someone goes too deep tomorrow, they might pay the price the day after, which is another very difficult stage. I feel the responsibility of the Maglia Rosa but I came to win the Giro and I feel comfortable in leading the race.”
The Numbers:
- This is the fourth stage win for Elia Viviani at the Giro, only one fewer than his team-mate, Fernando Gaviria, last year. It’s the 1250th stage victory by an Italian rider in the history of the individual stages. Viviani is the first Italian to win three bunch sprints in a single Giro since Daniele Bennati 10 years ago (2008).
- Although some riders commented about this stage to being the easiest so far this year, the 19th average speed of all times was recorded (out of 1761 in-line stages already contested since 1909). The record remains 49.429km/h when Andrea Guardini won stage 17 to Vedelago in 2012.
- It’s the 10th stage podium for Sam Bennett at the Giro: two stage victories, two second places, six third places.
Stage 13 Brief Results:
- Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) – 180km in 3h56’25”, average speed 45.682km/h
- Sam Bennett (Bora – Hansgrohe) st
- Danny Van Poppel (Team Lotto NL – Jumbo) st
General Classification After Stage 13:
- Simon Yates (Mitchelton – Scott)
- Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) at 47″
The Jerseys:
- Maglia Rosa (pink), general classification leader, sponsored by Enel – Simon Yates (Mitchelton – Scott)
- Maglia Ciclamino (cyclamen), sprinter classification leader, sponsored by Segafredo – Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors)
- Maglia Azzurra (blue), King of the Mountains classification leader, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Simon Yates (Mitchelton – Scott), worn by Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton – Scott)
- Maglia Bianca (white), young rider general classification leader, sponsored by Eurospin – Richard Carapaz (Movistar Team)
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