PeloPics: The first week of the 2018 Giro d’Italia is under the riders belt and there has been controversy and some good racing, but Thursday’s stage finalé on the volcanic climb of Mount Etna was classic. Here are the best shots from the day – The PEZ Etna photo gallery.
The happy Mitchelton-Scott couple
Australian team Mitchelton-Scott scored a historical 1-2 on top of Mount Etna with Colombia’s Esteban Chaves taking his second Giro d’Italia stage victory and England’s Simon Yates moving into the Maglia Rosa as he rode away from all the other favourites in the final part of the ascent.
The full Giro Stage 6 Race Report HERE.
The photographers still want photos of the Giro trophy
The endless trophy
Rohan Dennis ready for the start in Caltanissetta
Last day in pink?
New Zealand’s George Bennett at the start
The peloton leaving Caltanissetta
Another Sicilian village
The big break gave it their best shot
BMC were in chase mode behind
Nice wine from the Etna region
Good olives too
The climb started to hurt the legs
The trees start to thin out on the climb
Time to bring in the hay
A typical Sicilian scene
The riders start to pass through the lava flow
Chad Haga climbing the volcano
Miguel Lopez leads
Lopez, Pozzovivo, Yates, Bennett, Pinot and Dumoulin – Yates was soon to leave them
Not a great day for Aru and Froome
Rohan Dennis tried hard to save the pink jersey
Esteban Chaves on the attack
Chaves set Etna on fire!
Esteban Chaves was out front all day
The Mitchelton-Scott pair on the way to stage win and overall lead
Pink, blue and team prize for Mitchelton-Scott
STATISTICS:
· It’s the second stage victory for Esteban Chaves at the Giro d’Italia after stage 14 to Corvara Alta Badia in 2016. He scores the 27th stage win of all time for Colombian riders. From the day he became the first-ever Colombian winner of a Monument with victory at the 2016 Il Lombardia, Chaves’ only victories were stage 3 and GC of the Herald Sun Tour in Australia in February this year.
· It’s the first-ever podium for Simon Yates at the Giro d’Italia. He’s the fourth British rider to take the Maglia Rosa after Mark Cavendish (in 2009, 2011 and 2013), Bradley Wiggins (in 2010) and David Millar (in 2011). He’s the first British leader after an uphill finish. British riders have recorded a total of seven days in the lead of the Giro d’Italia so far.
· It’s the fifth stage podium for Thibaut Pinot. Four of them have been conquered in mountain stages: winner of stage 20 to Asiago; second in stage 9 to the Blockhaus; and third positions in stage 15 to Bergamo and stage 18 to Ortisei last year. It’s his second Giro d’Italia.
The fourth British rider to wear the Giro pink jersey – Simon Yates
JERSEYS:
· Maglia Rosa (pink), general classification leader, sponsored by Enel – Simon Yates (Mitchelton – Scott).
· Maglia Ciclamino (cyclamen), sprinter classification leader, sponsored by Segafredo – Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors).
· Maglia Azzurra (blue), King of the Mountains classification leader, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton – Scott).
· Maglia Bianca (white), young rider general classification leader, sponsored by Eurospin – Richard Carapaz (Movistar Team).
Keep it PEZ for all the Giro d’Italia action.