The 12th stage of the Giro d’Italia took the riders over 158 km from Cuneo to Pinerolo. After 117km in the saddle came the first Category 1 climb of this year’s race, which featured an average gradient of almost 10 per cent. After this ascent to Montose in more than 1,200m elevation, the riders encountered a 11km long descent. The run into the finish had many curves and was technical with a cobbled punchy climb of 13 percent grade around 500m ahead of the finish line. Right from the start Cesare Benedetti was able to get into a large breakaway who ramped up the speed and established a maximum advantage of 12 minutes after 60km. The leading group worked well together and the situation remained unchanged for the next 120km. With 35 km to go, a duo attacked out of the leading group, but their efforts remained unrewarded.
An increase in tempo saw the group split up on the only climb of the day and six riders then launched an attack out of the reduced leading group. At this time, Cesare fell back somewhat, but the Italia rider refused to give up and continuously tried to bridge to the leaders. Back in the main field, Rafal Majka was able to attack from the group of favourites. Meanwhile, up the road, Cesare was able to find the leading group yet again, which at this time had a 2 minute gap on the chasing group. Teammate Rafal was able to also make progress behind, along with E. Chaves and V. Nibali, and were later joined by more of the GC favourites. At this point seven riders were in the leading group, among them Cesare. On the last ascent, a few riders attacked from the leading group and rode out a small gap, but Cesare was able to close in on them in the last kilometre. Soon afterwards, G. Brambilla launched his sprint from the group, but the Italian BORA – hansgrohe rider countered him, and rushed past him to cross the line in first place. With this win, he took his first professional victory and brought the third win for the team at this year’s Giro d’Italia. The group of favourites reached the finish around 8 minutes later, with Rafal Majka jumping up to 7th place in the overall classification.
Result
01 C. Benedetti 3:41:49
02 D. Caruso +0:00
03 E. Dunbar +0:00
04 G. Brambilla +0:02
From the finish line
“I usually work hard for my teammates and today I had the opportunity to go into the breakaway to try something. We decided before the stage, that if a large breakaway group got away, then I would try to make it in that group. On the climb, I was forced to fall back somewhat, but eventually I was able to make contact with them again. The three riders who got away and rode on the front hesitated a bit and then I took my chance and in the end I was able to cross the line first. It’s a fantastic day for me and I’m very happy. Over the last few days, I was happy for my teammates and their success, and now I can also celebrate the fact that I was also able to take my own win here at the Giro.”
– Cesare Benedetti
“We planned to send one of our riders into the breakaway, because we thought that a breakaway would potentially be able to make it today. The leading group contained 25 riders, and Cesare was able to make it in this group. On the climb, he fell back somewhat, but on the descent he was able to bridge the gap again. This group of seven riders then rode together to the finish. On the steep ascent, particularly the part with a gradient of 20 per cent, he fell into some difficulties. However, 400m before the finish line, he fought his way back to the front. I told him to surprise us, and that is exactly what he did today. This victory is so emotional for us all. When a rider like Cesare, who always works so hard, and always rides at the front, then wins for himself, it’s really something special. Today in the meeting, we said that a helper in the team would potentially have the opportunity to ride a good result for themselves, and that is just what Cesare achieved. We are incredibly proud of him and his win.”
– Jens Zemke, Sports Director
General Classification
1 Jan Polanc 48:49:40
2 Primoz Roglic 0:04:07
3 Valerio Conti 0:04:51
4 Eros Capecchi 0:05:02
5 Vincenzo Nibali 0:05:51
