Almeida stays at the head of the GC
Fernando Gaviria sprinted to 2nd place on Stage 11 of the Giro D’Italia, just being beaten by half a wheel length on the fast, flat run in to the line on a day which took the riders from Santarcangelo di Romagna to Reggio Emilia (203km).
The flattest road stage of the race with just 369 metres of climbing, the mid-point of the day featured some echelons as wind swept the open plains.
The elastic of the peloton would not snap and the bunch came back together after reeling in a lone attack by Dries De Bondt (Alpecin-Fenix).
Maximiliano Richeze stormed to the front of the bunch in the last 600m with Gaviria closely behind before opening the sprint with a tailwind behind. Italian Alberto Dainese (DSM) just got the better of Gaviria in the last metres, with Simone Consonni (Cofidis) rounding out the days podium.
Gaviria: “Second wasn’t the result we wanted but we have to accept it. The legs are good but today Dainese was just faster. There was a tailwind so we went a bit earlier than usual but he took a good win so well done to him. The form is where I want it to be and I’m really gunning to get a first victory here at this Giro.”
Meanwhile Joao Almeida conceded no time in the GC and sits at 3rd place on the same time as Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers), 12’’ behind the Maglia Rosa of Juan Pedro Lopez (Trek-Segafredo).
Tomorrow Stage 12 brings the riders from Parma to Genova (202km) overall rolling terrain.
Stage 11 results
1.Alberto Dainese (DSM) 4:19:04
2.Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) s.t
3.Simone Consonni (Cofidis) s.t
General Classification after stage 11
Juan Pedro Lopez (Trek-Segafredo) 46:43:12
- Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers) +12’’
- Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +12’’
