Vincenzo Nibali of the Bahrain-Merida squad moved up to second place in the General Classification in the 2019 Giro d’Italia after a strong showing in the race’s 16th stage.
“We were a great team today,” commented Sporting Director Alberto Volpi, “in a stage that was very difficult as expected. Everyone worked very well, starting with Antonio Nibali and Damiano Caruso who entered in the break to end up with Domenico Pozzovivo who made a great pace on the Mortirolo that put many opponents in trouble. And then Vincenzo did a great race and the result rewards us with his second place in the GC.”
Under intense rain, the Italian Giulio Ciccone won the 16th stage preceding the Czech Jan Hirt with the pink jersey Richard Carapaz and Nibali (4th) arrived with 1:41 gap form the stage winner.
“It had to be the Queen stage of this Giro,” explained Vincenzo Nibali, “but without Gavia it was the same a very demanding stage conditioned by the bad weather especially from the Mortirolo to the finish in Ponte di Legno. Damiano and I collaborated with Carapaz and Mikel Landa to earn as much as possible on Roglic. Now we have to invent something to try to take the pink jersey but it won’t be easy because Carapaz is proving to be a very solid rider.”
The new general classification sees Carapaz first followed by Nibali at 1:47 and Primoz Roglic at 2:09. Tomorrow the stage profile is wavy and twisting with two 3rd category climbs before the last 5.5km ascent to Anterselva.
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