The Ecuadorian rider Richard Carapaz (Movistar Team) took a solo win in Stage 14 of the 102nd Giro d’Italia, 131km from Saint-Vincent to Courmayeur (Skyway Monte Bianco) to take over the top of the General Classification and don the Maglia Rosa. Carapaz crossed the line 1’32” ahead Simon Yates (Mitchelton – Scott), who has been struggling for the 2019 edition of the race, and Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain – Merida).
Richard Carapaz showed once again the enormous potential everyone in the Movistar Team’s roster for the ‘Corsa Rosa’ is able to offer, with a perfectly-timed attack propelling him to the race lead.
The Colle San Carlo (Cat-1), the most demanding of five climbs in a grueling 131km trek from Saint-Vincent to Courmayeur, saw the Ecuadorian launching an unstoppable attack with three kilometers from its summit, one which found no opposition from either Primoz Roglic (TJV), Vincenzo Nibali (TBM), Miguel Antonio López (AST) or Rafal Majka (BOH) into a group also containing team-mate Mikel Landa. The 35″ gap amassed by Carapaz at the top was nearly bridged back by Roglic and Nibali into the long descent, yet the lack of cooperation behind and Carapaz’s excellent power helped him open the gaps in the ups-and-downs leading up to Courmayeur, where his gap lifted off to two minutes.
Carapaz’s extraordinary effort not only brought him a third career stage win in the Giro d’Italia -his second so far in 2019-, but also put him into the Maglia Rosa by a 7″ margin over Roglic.
“I can’t even believe it myself,” said Carapaz after the stage. “It’s a dream I’ve worked so hard for, an enormous effort for such a long time which is finally paying off now. Today’s strategy was one we had designed thoroughly with the rest of the team; we knew both Mikel and I had good chances to do well, and San Carlo’s slopes suited my characteristics really well. Having two cards to play, it’s quite easier. I saw the place to attack with three kilometers from the end of the ascent, launched an acceleration with everything I had, and was able to keep that speed and open the 30″ I held over the climb. It was enough to make our rivals suffer, continue to open those gaps into the last climb and, at the end, even having a shot at the Maglia Rosa. I just can’t believe it, I’m so, so happy!”
Stage 14 Brief Results:
- Richard Carapaz (Movistar Team) at 4h02’23”
- Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott at 1’32”
- Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) at 1’54”
- Rafal Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe) at 1’54”
- Mikel Landa (Movistar Team) at 1’54”
- Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Pro Team) at 1’54”
- Pavel Sivakov (Team Sky) at 1’54”
- Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo-Visma) at 1’54”
- Joe Dombrowski (EF Education First) at 1’54”
- Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Merida) at 2’01”
General Classification After Stage 14:
- Richard Carapaz (Movistar Team 58:35:34
- Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo-Visma) at 7″
- Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) at 1’47”
- Rafal Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe) at 2’10”
- Mikel Landa (Movistar Team) at 2’50”
- Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) at 2’58”
- Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) at 3’29”
- Pavel Sivakov (Team Ineos) at 4’55”
- Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) at 5’28”
- Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Pro Team) at 6’30”
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