This week at the 2014 Giro d’Italia has been an eventful one, with a fair share of crashes, jersey changeovers and sheer determination to win, the Giro has shown off some of it’s most impressive stages yet.

 

Giro d’Italia Stage 10 – crash but don’t burn

After completing Tuesday’s race, pink jersey holder Cadel Evans described stage 10 as:

“As expected after a rest day, everyone is fresh and recovered both physically and mentally. It often makes a more dangerous finish,” 

The dangerous finish in question was in fact a sizeable crash including many key riders, including Elia Viviani. Evans however, managed to stay on form and out of the way, as he finished stage 10 with the maglia rosa firmly on his back.

cadel 10

Image courtesy of www.sbs.com.au

Speaking of backs, the impact of the big crash near the end of the race completely ripped open Viviani’s jersey, leaving the Italian bruised and battered. Viviani appeared to be suffering a fever early on in the stage, but was persistent to carry on pedalling; as he crossed the finish line he looked to be in tears. Pure courage and pride, along with mental strength, saw this rider through to the end.

“I found Farrar across the road in front of me and it was impossible to avoid him. Then riders arrived on top of me. I took a lot of blows. I got one on my back and then riders came on top of me. When it’s a bad day, it’s a bad day.”

Giro d'Italia 2014 stage 10

A pile-up saw many riders miss out on key performances in stage 10. Photo: Tim De Waele.

 

viviani finish

Fellow Cannondale teammates help Viviani to the finish line. Photo: Bettini Photo.

Bouhanni took another win and his third stage victory so far in the 2014 Giro d’Italia, leaving Nizzolo and Matthews in second and third place respectively.

 

Stage 11 – Australian Michael Rogers takes a win after doping scandal

It was just 8 months ago that Australian Saxo-Tinkoff cyclist Michael Rogers tested positive for clenbuterol, but after relentlessly fighting his case and putting the discovery down to contaminated food, Rogers managed to win it, along with a stage 11 victory in the Giro d’Italia.

In a descending attack that seemed to come out of thin air, Rogers maintained his strong position until the finish line where he put Saxo-Tinkoff on the map this year.

PIC462743651

Image courtesy of RCUK – (Sirotti)

Cadel of course, kept the maglia rosa once again.

 

Stage 12 – Uran away with the pink jersey?

In the 41.9km time trial that was stage 12 of the Giro, the maglia rosa finally changed hands. Time trials are often risky stages, with being strong on the day very much a factor in how much your GC standings are affected.

Colombian Rigoberto Uran swooped a time of 57min 34sec, while evans was 1min 34sec behind that, due to a tough day in the saddle. As with all time trials, this is the brutal reality of this breed of cycling; it can literally make or break you.

uran

Image courtesy of BT Sport

Uran is the first Colombian to wear the maglia rosa and was stunned with his performance:

“I’ve been doing a lot of work over the winter. I was fourth in the Tour of Romandie (individual time-trial) and so that was a good sign. I’m lost for words – it’s incredible.”

 

Stage 13 – looks can be deceiving

In this stage, the riders rode a fairly flat, rolling route of 157km from Fassano to Rivarolo Canavese. An obvious chance for the sprinters to shine, stage 13 wasn’t actually the tactical battle march we thought it was going to be. With all packs seemingly playing war games, no party was going in for the kill, with slight chances and constant tension, it seemed as though the peloton were playing the waiting game.

Italian Marco Cannola took the win for Bardiani-CSF as Rigoberto Uran once again retains the pink jersey.

Marco_Canola_2920686b

Image courtesy of www.dailynewsen.com

General classification after stage 13:

1. Rigoberto URAN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, in 53:15:06
2. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at :37
3. Rafal MAJKA, Tinkoff-Saxo, at 1:52
4. Domenico POZZOVIVO, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2:32
5. Wilco KELDERMAN, Belkin, at 2:50
6. Nairo Alexander QUINTANA ROJAS, Movistar, at 3:29
7. Fabio ARU, Astana, at 3:37
8. Wouter POELS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 4:06
9. Steve MORABITO, BMC Racing, at 4:20
10. Robert KISERLOVSKI, Trek Factory Racing, at 4:4



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