Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) triumphed on a rainswept Giro d’Italia Stage 16 as Richard Carapaz stayed in pink and Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo-Visma) slipped back in GC.
The Gavia climb was removed from Stage 16 due to safety concerns, but there was no shortage of drama with GC fireworks on the Mortirolo, the third and final categorised climb of the day.
The rain made for a punishing climb and a nerve-jangling descent as Jan Hirt (Astana Pro Team) and Ciccone led the race to the finish, while the GC battle ignited behind.
Following climbs at Cevo and Aprica, Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Merida) attacked on the Mortirolo and while Carapaz and Mikel Landa (Movistar Team) caught him, Roglic and Simon Yates (Mitchelton-SCOTT) were among those left behind.
Roglic, Yates and Mollema eventually lost 1’23” to the Maglia Rosa group.
A 21-man escape group formed early on but never got further than around five minutes ahead: it was very clear that Movistar Team, and others, wanted this to be an important day in GC.
And while they never quite managed to reel the breakaway in, it was an excellent day for Movistar Team and for Nibali’s Team Bahrain Merida. The Italian favourite now sits second in GC behind Carapaz, 1’47” behind.
Roglic is now 2’09” behind Carapaz with Mikel Landa in fourth, 3’15” behind his team-mate. Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) is fifth, 5’00” back.
See all the VelonLive infographics from Stage 16:
