Results & Comments: Stage 18 Giro’16

Matteo Trentin Wins Stage 18 of Giro d’Italia

Steven Kruijswijk Retains Maglia Rosa

Italian trio on the podium of the longest stage of this year’s Corsa Rosa

Pinerolo, 26 May 2016 – The Italian rider Matteo Trentin (Etixx – Quick-Step) has won Stage 18 of the 99th Giro d’Italia, 240km from Muggiò to Pinerolo. Moreno Moser (Cannondale Pro Cycling Team) finished second, with Gianluca Brambilla (Etixx – Quick-Step) third.

Steven Kruijswijk (Team Lotto NL – Jumbo) remains the race leader overall and keeps the Maglia Rosa.

FINAL RESULT
1 – Matteo Trentin (Etixx – Quick-Step) – 240km in 5h25’34”, ave. 44.230km/h
2 – Moreno Moser (Cannondale Pro Cycling Team) s.t.
3 – Gianluca Brambilla (Etixx – Quick-Step) s.t.

JERSEYS
Maglia Rosa (pink), General Classification, sponsored by Enel – Steven Kruijswijk (Team Lotto NL – Jumbo)
Maglia Rossa (red), Sprint Classification, sponsored by Algida – Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek – Segafredo)
Maglia Azzurra (blue), Mountains Classification, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Damiano Cunego (Nippo – Vini Fantini)
Maglia Bianca (white), Young Rider Classification, sponsored by Eurospin – Bob Jungels (Etixx – Quick-Step)

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Steven Kruijswijk (Team Lotto NL – Jumbo)
2 – Esteban Chaves (Orica Greenedge) at 3’00”
3 – Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) at 3’23”
4 – Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Pro Team) at 4’43”
5 – Ilnur Zakarin (Team Katusha) at 4’50”

Seconds after the stage finish, the stage winner said: “It’s beautiful! Really beautiful! In the classics I was in great shape but I had some back luck, so I came to the Giro with the goal of winning at least a stage. I started off working for Marcel [Kittel], and then for Gianluca Brambilla and Bob Jungels. Today it all went perfectly. Brambilla is a climber so he went away uphill and I was behind with three guys pulling for me, until I came across by myself at the very end.”

The Maglia Rosa said: “I felt really good today. It was a long stage but I didn’t see much of the rest of the peloton because my team kept me protected and safe all the time. Only the last climb did I have to do it by myself, although I was never in trouble. I’m getting closer every day to winning the Giro. Tomorrow it looks like a good stage for me. I like long climbs. Maybe I can do something. After finishing second three times, I’d like a stage win as well but firstly I’ll defend the Maglia Rosa”.

TOMORROW’S STAGE
Stage 19 – Pinerolo – Risoul – 162km
This is a high mountain stage featuring a summit finish, and “home” to the Cima Coppi. The route runs constantly uphill (on deceptively flat roads) over 80km, all the way up to Casteldelfino. Here the road starts to climb up Colle dell’Agnello (Cima Coppi, 2744m). The following 40km run mostly downhill and lead to Guillestre, at the foot of the final climb. There are a few tunnels around km 135.

Final kms
The last 13km run entirely uphill, with an average 7% gradient and 15 hairpins. The roadway is very wide and well surfaced. The home straight, 150m in length, on a 6m wide asphalt road, has an 8% uphill gradient.

#Giro

PHOTO CREDIT: ANSA – PERI / DI MEO / ZENNARO