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Giro d'Italia stage 16 report
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Buongiorno and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 17 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia!
Riders are completing sign-ons and the team presentation ahead of the start in Selva di Val Gardena. Thankfully, there isn't any of the snow, rain or disorganisation that we had yesterday and the weather looks much better.
However, despite the more agreeable climate, the day won't be any easier than the brutal shortened stage we had yesterday.
Here's what is on the menu for the riders today. They'll be heading into some quite stunning terrain in the Dolomites but the five categorised climbs and 4000 metres of elevation gain jammed into a 159-kilometre route won't be welcomed by Grand Tour third-week legs.
Key points - Giro d'Italia stage 17
150.1km to go - climb - Passo Sella (8.9km at 7.4%)
112.3km to go - intermediate sprint - Predazzo
91.4km to go - climb - Passo Rolle (19.8 km at 4.8%)
58.6km to go - climb - Passo Gobbera (5.7 km at 5.8%)
47km to go - Intergiro sprint - Canal San Bovo
31.8km to go - climb - Passo Brocon - Albergo (15.4km at 5.6%)
11.8km to go - bonus seconds sprint - Pieve Tesino
Finish - climb - Passo Brocon (11.9 at 6.5%)
Reminder that race leader Tadej Pogačar is so far ahead of the competition that he has started winning by 'accident'. Catch up with what he had to say after taking a fifth stage win at this year's Giro yesterday:
An accidental victory – Tadej Pogačar can't help but collect fifth win at Giro d’Italia
We're around 15 minutes from the official start of stage 17 with a neutralised roll out of Selva di Val Gardena to come just before that. Expect explosive racing right from the flag with the road kicking uphill from kilometre 0.
Despite there being a good chance for a strong breakaway to get up the road with UAE Team Emirates seeming happy now to relax, relatively, the race behind Pogačar for the podium should give us a race within a race on stage 17.
Here's how the GC looks heading into today's stage. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) was the big loser on the day as he got dropped by Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) and left behind by teammate Thymen Arensman on the final climb to Monte Pana. The Welshman will look to make up that 22-second deficit and today provides the perfect opportunity, should he have the legs...
Make sure to catch up on Ineos' tactical dilemma and Thomas' tough day from yesterday:
Some quite stunning views of the Dolomites in the background of today's start with the Sella Group on full display down in Selva di Val Gardena.
The Cima Coppi, the highest point of the Giro d'Italia, has been updated after the removal of both the Stelvio and, eventually, the Umbrail Pass from yesterday's stage, with the first climb of today's stage taking their place.
The special award will be given to the first rider to crest the Passo Sella.
Here's the race leader Tadej Pogačar ahead of the start. If he is to win today, it would be three wins in a row at this year's Giro and a total of six. But he seemed to be happy with his haul of four wins, not even putting his team to pace yesterday until the final summit, so expect a possible calmer day from the maglia rosa.
If it comes down to the GC group with a different team keeping the break close as Movistar did yesterday, however, evidence from this year's race would suggest no one will be able to match him uphill.
Riders are gone from the unofficial start after warming up on the rollers, prepared for the uphill roads. It should be a fast and furious fight to get into the day's break.
159KM TO GO
Here we go! Flag dropped and stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia is underway. 4000m of climbing incoming...
Pace is certainly high but it is tense for now with Bardiani launching the first attacks in a duo. They came so close yesterday with Giulio Pellizzari who was second only to Pogačar on the stage.
It is Fiorelli and Marcellusi making the move for the Italian team.
Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates) is worryingly already out the back of the peloton. He was the last man to cross the finish line yesterday so must be struggling with some illness as Bjerg is one of the top domestiques in Pogačar's squad, both on the flat and uphill.
Simon Geschke (Cofidis) looks active after being overtaken by Christian Scaroni (Astana Qazaqstan) in the KOM classification yesterday. They are fighting for the right to wear the maglia azurra on behalf of Pogačar, who leads that competition by 114 points.
Lots of the big sprinters, Merlier and Milan included, are forming the grupetto on this very first climb. It will be a tough day for the fast men but if they can survive, tomorrow should provide a chance for the first bunch sprint in a while.
Andrea Bagioli (Lidl-Trek), Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost) and Pelayo Sánchez (Movistar) are among the riders to form a new group at the front. The Bardiani boys have dropped back.
Alpecin-Deceuninck, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, Israel-Premier Tech and Polti-Kometa among the other teams interested in getting into any move that gets a gap.
All back together at the front with 4.5km of this first climb remaining.
New attack from one of the best breakaway riders in the world, Alessandro De Marchi (Jayco AlUla).
Conci and Sánchez are back on the move and have joined De Marchi in front.
Going to be a lot of this today in the Dolomites in truly one of the most beautiful places in the world and certainly one of the best for riding a bike,
Lots of riders going out the back already. Pogačar has been losing teammates by the kilometre with Bjerg, Laengen and now Novak all away from their leader and further down the climb.
Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) has got himself on the front with all the attackers brought back in. He said pre-stage that he would be working for 10th place Jan Hirt's GC ambitions.
Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) is curiously sitting very close to the back of the peloton after having a good day yesterday.
150KM TO GO
Inside the final kilometre of the climb and Pellizzari has set off on the attack in pursuit of the new Cima Coppi, a prestigious prize in itself but even more so for a young Italian on an Italian team.
There are some drops of the rain falling towards the top of the climb and reports on the ground suggest that the very long descent off of the Passo Sella will be taken on wet roads.
Photo finish for the Cima Coppi! Pellizzari looked to have it wrapped up but the Colombian sprinted from behind to possibly snatch it on the line. No confirmation yet.
Quintana has kicked on over the crest with Ghebreigzabhier, Pellizzari and Alaphilippe also getting on the move on this rapid descent.
Only a very small group of favourites crested that climb with 145km to go. Lots of very tired bodies out there and today's brutal parcours will not be helping their recovery.
Confirmation that 20-year-old Giulio Pellizzari (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) managed to outlast Quintana for the Cima Coppi prize at this year's Giro d'Italia. Reminder that he is the youngest rider at the race.
140KM TO GO
Ghebreigzabhier is now leading the race down the descent, gapping the lighter men that crested the climb with him. Quite the feat to get away from Alaphilippe on a downhill.
Rapid speeds on this section of downhill heading into Canazei which is part of the Dolomiti Superski area, a stunning place in both summer and winter.
Alaphilippe has joined Ghebreigzabhier at the front of the race.
Pogačar may have lost a few teammates on the climb but he's sat pretty in pink in the bunch.
There are splits all down the road in the GC favourites as the better descenders find small gaps and more attacks start to come.
Pellizzari and Quintana have rejoined Ghebreigzabhier and Alaphilippe at the front. There is a small chasing group some 21 seconds back with the splintering pink jersey group around 46 seconds off the lead.
130KM TO GO
After pacing all day for no reward, Movistar are clearly intent on trying again as Sánchez just tried to split away with Rubio in his wheel. They were brought back as a big group got back onto the main group of favourites.
Steinhauser has joined the quartet out in front alongside Frigo. Behind them, attacks from the bigger peloton has reduced the advantage of the leaders.
We've still got around 20km of downhill to tackle before the next climb will start - the Passo Rolle (19.8 km at 4.8%).
Ballerini is sowing great climbing form and trying to get across to the now six leaders in a trio with Conci and Caruso.
Gap is only at 30 seconds from the lead to the peloton now. Pogačar is back at the team car getting some more layers as the weather begins to worsen slightly.
120KM TO GO
Ballerini and Caruso have bridged to the front, making it a break of eight riders. They are working well together and the gap is out to 43 seconds.
UAE Team Emirates have tried to restore some order with Laengen and Novak rejoining the group of favourites and settling in to control. Attile Valter (Visma-Lease a Bike) has attacked but as no threat to GC has been allowed to go.
Even after his solo efforts yesterday, Alaphilippe is back in the Giro d'Italia breakaway again. Along with his stage win, he's really looked back to his swashbuckling best which is great to see from a two-time World Champion.
110KM TO GO
We've just been through the intermediate sprint at Predazzo which wasn't contested by the break except for Ballerini. More importantly, we are closing in on a historic Giro d'Italia climb, the Passo Rolle.
The first climb ever used in the Dolomites and one that has been seen so often with the Giro since the 1930s when the likes of Gino Bartali were battling out the Giro.
Profile of the climb that the break is just starting. Peloton is sat 1:45 down and we finally have the break of the day.
After looking quite some way down on the downhill, Frigo and Valter have made contact on the lower slopes of the climb. Group of 10 now in front.
Puncture in the front group for Steinhauser out of the breakaway. He's going again on a new bike and riding back towards his fellow escapees.
UAE were riding on the front and not kicking on with a huge tempo but a group of opportunistic attackers have just got away. This was the risk they were running by keeping the break at only 1:30.
105KM TO GO
UAE have pulled back the moves but this acceleration has caused the gap tot he break to fall to under the minute mark.
It was looking like another good move into the break for Nairo Quintana but UAE are again spoiling his plans in the breakaway.
It looks as though UAE are riding for the stage win again here. If Pogačar wins a sixth stage today, he would equal an Eddy Merckx record from 1973 when the greatest rider of all time won five stages in the maglia rosa.
Pogačar made it four in pink yesterday and if UAE can get him to the foot of the final climb with the break in his sights, who would bet against him equalling the Belgian's record?
A big group has just rejoined the pink jersey group, forming a larger peloton as they pass alongside the Lago di Paneveggio.
100KM TO GO
David Dekker (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) is the latest rider to abandon the race.
Things have definitely calmed down as this now big peloton settles into the long climb. Chance for a nature break and to put a jacket on for much of the group.
Break now at 1:44.
Well UAE did seem to be allowing the breakaway to now build an advantage but DSM-Firmenich PostNL have now taken over control of the peloton.
Pictures of a wet finish confirm that weather is only going to get worse on today's stage with rain awaiting the riders.
Despite DSM's curious pacing, the breakaway has rebuild their advantage past 2:00 as they close in on the crest of the Passo Rolle.
The break are all wrapped up even before approaching the top of the climb. It is going to be a very cold descent down.
Pellizzari attacks to try and gain more KOM points. There's no photo finish this time as he beats Quintana to the line. This gain along with taking the Cima Coppi has made it look more likely that Pogačar hasn't yet wrapped up that classification with the young Italian making good progress.
DSM's pacing has no had the desired effect, bringing down the break's advantage to close to one minute again as they crest the climb.
90KM TO GO
The race will be heading downhill now until around the 63km to go mark where they will begin the easiest climb of the day to Passo Gobbera (5.7 km at 5.8%).
Stunning hairpin descent being taken on by the riders now.
The roads on the descent are wet, with even Alaphilippe not going for his typical daredevil descending and actually sitting at the back of the break and just staying rubber-side down.
Can't get much better than a Dolomites stage.
This descent seems to heading more in favour of the peloton by the kilometre. The closer they get to the finish with only a small deficit to make up, the more likely it looks that Pogačar will win again.
80KM TO GO
Very high speeds in this descent with the DSM-led peloton flying down behind the break.
Gap is continuing to come down, now just at 34 seconds.
70KM TO GO
Race is now approaching the foot of the Passo Gobbera.
Some of the stunning hairpin roads tackled on today's stage:
🚵♂️ If heaven doesn't look like this, I ain't going. #GirodItalia https://t.co/KXqa3MaefU pic.twitter.com/UKbHnzxLnpMay 22, 2024
DSM's furious pace down on the descent has massively split the peloton. It looked innocuous but their efforts has put a lot of riders out the back and they are pushing on.
The break has reached the 5.7km Passo Gobbero with a 36-second advantage. They could serve as a launchpad for someone in the break to bridge to then attack from later on in the day.
Romain Bardet is taking off some of his layers as his DSM teammates continue to pull on the front. He said pre-race that he would love to win the stage and thinks it suits him best.
Attack
Vermaerke is igniting things for Bardet and launching the Frenchman some 62km from the finish. Unfortunately for him, Pogačar is locked into his back wheel.
This DSM move has seen some splits in the peloton with Martínez and Thomas now working to get back into position on the climb. They are closing in on the breakaway as I type.
Break caught and DSM are kicking on. The Frenchman clearly feels some of his competitors on GC are showing weakness and today is the day to go for it.
60KM TO GO
8th place Zana is reportedly dropped with Plapp for company. Bardet has moved back form his teammates wheel into the group to get move draft.
Ghebreigzabhier has set off on his own now after taking the Passo Gobbera KOM point.
Ineos have now taken up position on the front of the peloton with good numbers still remaining in this small leading group.
Full gas racing makes feeding incredibly important. Here's Pogačar keeping himself fuelled while following on from DSM's attacking racing.
Steinhauser had joined up with Ghebreigzabhier at the front, with an advantage of 30 seconds now on the peloton heading downhill to the foot of the Passo Brocon but the Eritrean is dropping the German in the descent.
50KM TO GO
There's some real anger in the bunch from Majka aimed towards the DSM boys after their attacking tactics.
Alaphilippe has now made a move off the front with Hirt in his wheel. Ineos are chasing them down heading towards the Intergiro sprint in Canal San Bovo.
The first ascent of Passo Brocon will be taken on from the north east side, with 13.3km at 6.5% gradient to contend with.
Here's a look back at the moment Ghebreigzabhier took off in attack, with Steinhauser blurred out in the background chasing on. The German just took the Intergiro sprint but the pair are focused on trying to win the stage.
Duo in front are growing the gap out to close to a minute. UAE have knocked things off as have Ineos with a lot of looking around in the bunch. More attacks will surely come...
Frigo has attacked again out of the bunch after being active earlier in the break.
40KM TO GO
DSM, Alpecin and Quick-Step are now all putting a man on the front to chase in what has been a fascinating tactical day at the Giro.
It is young Leemreize working on the front for Bardet in the group who must be feeling amazing. Frigo is almost reeled back in and the gap to the duo ahead is back down to 1:05.
A change on the front now as the recognisable figure of Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal Quick-Step) is doing the work for 10th place Jan Hirt on the Passo Brocon.
Vansevenant is done and the pace again comes out in the bunch with neither Ineos nor UAE wanting to waste their whole team. Gap to the two leaders is 1:18.
With no one taking control, here come the attacks! Geschke is the first to go with four riders closely following on.
Attacks reeled back in and the peculiar situation in the peloton continues as Leemreize is now back on the front and pulling again.
Gloves are off for the race leader Pogačar in the bunch.
35KM TO GO
Still 3.5km left to climb up to the first ascent of the Passo Brocon.
Steinhauser leaves his companion Ghebreigzabhier and sets off solo with 34km to go. Chapeau to the Eritrean for another strong day in the break to go along with the mountain of domestique-work he has got through this Giro.
New team on the front with DSM running out of firepower - BahrainVictorious for fifth place and white jersey Antonio Tiberi.
Frigo is on the attack again, you can't keep him down. With the pace coming out of the day again, Scaroni has come back from being dropped in the maglai azzurra and set off in pursuit of more KOM points.
30KM TO GO
Steinhauser crests the climb alone with around 1:40 on the peloton. He'll have one of the only flat portions of road on the day to get through for around 4km until he hits the descent proper.
If you wanted a sign of how good Pogačar is feeling, he just waved at some Slovenian fans by the side of the road with 27km left to ride and a tough ride still to contend with after a full gas day of racing.
Steinhauser has hit the descent and has gone into quite the turn of weather. Wet roads, rain falling and the fog descending on the road.
Pogačar's group of favourites is at 2:02 from the German at the head of the race.
Here's what the riders are descending to the foot of - the Passo Brocon again but from the southern entry to it. Once taking in the bonus sprint in Pieve Tesino, they will take on a 180 degree turn and start the ascent to the finish of stage 17.
As you can see, the first 5km are the easiest with the best chance to make a move and hardest gradients coming around 7km into the effort.
20KM TO GO
Steinhauser's gap is now looking good with the teams outside of UAE and Ineos running out of manpower in the peloton. He's got a 2:18 advantage for now.
The lone leader on stage 17.
Ghebreigzabhier has kept the gap at 35 seconds as he takes on the horrid weather behind the German. Frigo isn't making any ground at 1:53 with the bunch still 2:20 behind.
10KM TO GO
It is looking fantastic for Steinhauser now with a 2:45 lead on the peloton. UAE will not go on the front which suggests Pogačar is happy to relax.
Ineos are on the front and will want to get rid of Martínez to try and move Thomas back into second overall but they are not chasing the stage win by the looks of things.
Steinhauser still going brilliantly out in front as he takes more time on the Ineos-led peloton who are at 2:07. It is far from over but the young German is looking good for now.
Glasses off, gloves off, bidon discarded, Steinhauser is stripping every bit of weight and restriction so he can go all out for this final 8km to try and achieve the biggest win of his life and first as a professional.
Steinhauser's aero position has been quite brilliant throughout the day in front, saving every watt he can in his pursuit of victory with his head down and elbows tucked in to avoid the wind.
6KM TO GO
With the gap at 3:20, it looks like we know who our winner will be but the GC battle could still ignite behind with the podium and top five spots far from locked up yet.
Steinhauser is entering the hardest part of the climb now as Ineos continue to set the pace in the bunch. All lined out for the GC guys.
Narváez is doing a good turn on the front and putting pressure on those behind. The Ecuadorian's work has reeled in Frigo too.
The pressure is ramping up from the British squad here but will we see an Arensman or Thomas attack to try and distance Martínez?
Narváez done and Arensman now continues with Thomas in his wheel. No attack as of yet from anyone. Pogačar has just one teammate with him now.
Ghebreigzabhier's great day out in front has ended with the peloton now catching him. However, the upping of the pace is still not having the effect on Steinhauser that would lose him the day. He's at 3:06 for now.
3KM TO GO
Thomas needs 22 seconds if he wants to catch up with Martínez after he struggled on the steep finish yesterday and dropped to third overall.
Arensman is pacing but not an any sort of infernal level without many riders dropping and Majka even taking the chance to stretch behind him on the bike.
Scratch that, problems for Ben O'Connor who has dropped behind!
Tiberi in fifth started the stage around 1:27 down on the Australian and would fancy a chance at moving into fourth if O'Connor has completely cracked.
Martínez now attacks! Best thing to do after being isolated with now teammates. Pogačar and Thomas instantly react and are straight onto the wheel.
Pogačar now takes over and tempos on the front with Majka moving back up in the group behind him. This acceleration has dropped Zana and Arensman behind.
2KM TO GO
Majka is now gone under the pressure of his teammates move and Pogačar goes away! He made it look so easy but surely he can't chase down Steinhauser's 2:02 lead.
The race leader has proved again that he is head and shoulders above the rest, just pulling away to extend his overall lead on GC.
Steinhauser is going well at the front and still looks good to take the stage win.
Rubio, Tiberi, Thomas, Bardet and Martínez make up the chasing group behind Pogačar with O'Connor still battling to keep his place on GC.
Pogačar's gap to Steinhauser has quickly fell to 1:38 as he leaves the rest of the GC men 30 seconds behind him.
1KM TO GO
Into the final kilometre for Steinhauser but Pogačar is absolutely powering up the climb behind him in the big ring.
Thankfully, for the German in front, the gradient has eased in the barrier finish section so he should now be safe with the win in his hands.
Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost) wins stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia!
What a ride from the young man on his Grand Tour debut at this Giro. It's also his first-ever pro win and a new star is born at the Corsa Rosa.
There was no hat-trick and no sixth win at the Giro for the dominant Pogačar but he let everyone in the group behind know that he was still the absolute strongest here. He took second on the day with Tiberi mopping up third in the small GC group that finished behind him.
Here's what Georg Steinhauser had to say after the biggest day of his career so far:
"It's something unbelievable. Already on stage 8, I noticed I had good legs and thought I maybe had the legs to win a stage. The Queen stage was unbelievable, I could've already been happy just with that for this Giro," he said, having taken third on that day to Mottolino behind Pogačar and Quintana.
"Today when I rode to the sign-on, I thought to myself 'fuck I have good legs, maybe I will win today' and then I went from the beginning in the break. It was a little bit strange because we got caught by the peloton again but in one moment I decided I had to try again and I did and it worked out."
Steinhauser has great pedigree as the son of a pro rider, Tobias, and the nephew of the great Jan Ullrich but he was just focused on himself in the last few kilometres.
"To be honest, I didn't really think about much, I just concentrated on the roads in front of me," he said when asked if he was thinking of his dad in the finale. "The roads were super wet and slippery so I was just in my zone.
"I heard on the radio and I was super nervous in the last climb and I heard at one point that he [Pogačar] was attacking but I was already 2ks to go so I thought I will make it."
Here's how the GC stands after stage 17 with Ben O'Connor and Filippo Zana the biggest losers in the top 10. O'Connor slipped further from a podium spot and closer to Tiberi in fifth, now just 42 seconds behind him in the fight for fourth.
Zana struggled a lot and fell to ninth behind Rubio as Movistar found some success after a lot of work on the front yesterday.
This is what race leader Pogačar had to say after putting the overall GC even further out of sight and closing in on an eight-minute lead:
"Well I really held my horses until the final so it was a really beautiful stage. A little bit cold on the last descent but we stretched the legs good on the final climb." he said.
"Ineos did a good pace, Martínez tried to attack, I followed and then I decided to dig a little bit and I rode away and kept my tempo to the finish. I'm super happy that Steinhauser took the win today so for me its also like a victory. I'm super happy."
Pogačar suggested he was happy with his haul of five wins and firm grip on the maglia rosa with everything else coming as a bonus, but did admit that Saturday's big stage which features Monte Grappa is taking his fancy:
"I'm satisfied how it is, even if i don't win anything now, everything is just bonus from now on," said Pogačar.
"The main goal is always to keep the jersey into Rome and not do anything stupid. But there is one really nice stage, Monte Grappe close to Slovenia, we can see what happens there."
Make sure to read our full stage report and check out the growing gallery of all the day's action:
Giro d'Italia: Georg Steinhauser solos to victory on Passo Brocon
Most of the sprinters have been arriving in dribs and drabs to the finish at Passo Brocon after a very tough stat to the third week at the Giro but they will be rewarded with a likely sprint stage tomorrow. It is the first chance for the fast men since stage 13 when Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) took his third victory at the 2024 race.
Look to see the likes of him, Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), Caleb Ewan (Jayco AlUla) and Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates) among those contesting the finish.
That wraps things up for our live coverage of stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia with Georg Steinhauser taking the win!
Check back tomorrow for our live coverage of the sprint stage from Fiera di primiero to Padova and in the meantime, look out for news coming out of the race from our team in Italy.
