Tao Geoghegan Hart (Team Ineos Grenadiers) has won Stage 20 in Sestriere of the 103rd Giro d’Italia, 190km from Alba to Sestriere. Jai Hindley (Team Sunweb) and Rohan Dennis (Team Ineos Grenadiers) finished second and third, respectively.
Jai Hindley is the new Maglia Rosa and leads the general classification after teammate Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb) finished in 8th place at 1’35”.
Tao Geoghegan Hart and Jai Hindley are tied at the top of the overall standings with the same time. Hindley, however, is the new Maglia Rosa as a result of a few hundredths of a second advantage over Geoghegan Hart in the ITT.
Everything will be decided in Milan tomorrow.
This was the last uphill challenge before the time trial in Milan tomorrow. On the second climb towards Sestriere an attack by Dennis, Hindley and Geoghegan Hart, Kelderman and Nibali drop off. It was a Giro finale never seen before.
For the first time in history, two athletes will face the last day of a great Giro with the same time in the standings.
It was an alpine stage with over 3,500 meters in altitude, 190 km from Alba to Sestriere. In the early kilometers, 21 riders take off: Ballerini, Honoré, Serry, Vendrame, Bouchard, Tratnik, Fiorelli, Malecki, Viviani, Kangert, Démare, Guglielmi, Cimolai, Holmes, McNulty, Villella, Rubio, Gebreigzabhier, Sobrero, Bernard and Conci. Arnaud Démare summits first over the line in Saluzzo, and is now sure to remain the leader of the points classification.
After the first loop in Sestriere (Cat 2 GPM) 17 riders remain in command. They dropped escape companions Sobrero, Cimolai, Viviani and Démare. Their advantage is almost 4 ‘on the pink jersey group pulled by Geoghegan Hart’s Ineos. Davide Ballerini attacks in the descent enroute to Cesana Torinese and gains 40″ on his pursuers.
On the second climb of the day Ganna increases the pace in a group, then it’s up to Dennis who does a great job. With him only Geoghegan Hart and Hindley remain, Kelderman can’t keep up. At the head of the race Rubio overtakes Ballerini and remains alone leading, while the first break is joined by the big names. Another descent towards Cesana Torinese, then the uphill arrival in Sestriere. Before the last ascent (cat 1 GPM) Ballerini and Serry reach Rubio but their action runs out quickly because the group with Hindley and Geoghegan Hart arrives. Hindley earns 1″ over the British passing first at the line of Sauze di Cesana. On the last climb Nibali breaks away from the group with Kelderman, in front with about 1′ of advantage remains the trio Hindley, Geoghegan Hart and Dennis. Almeida snaps in the face of Kelderman and Bilbao, 3.4 km from the end Hindley tries to accelerate but does not make a gap. The second and third attempts are more effective, only Geoghegan Hart can keep the wheel of the Australian. In the last kilometer the sprint starts and the Hindley gets the better of his rival. At 1’35 “from the winner of the day comes Kelderman, at 2’02” Nibali.
The Last Stage Tomorrow: Time trial of 15.7 km starting in the center of Cernusco sul Naviglio and finishing in Milan at Piazza Duomo.
Stage
1 T.Geoghegan Hart 4h52’45”
2 J.Hindley + 0:00
3 R.Dennis + 0:25
Overall
1 Jai Hindley (Aus) Team Sunweb 85:22:07
2 Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers
3 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb 0:01:32
