COLOMBIAN NAIRO QUINTANA retained the Giro d’Italia pink jersey after a 20th and penultimate stage won by Frenchman Thibaut Pinot that saw Dutchman Tom Dumoulin remain in victory contention.
Pinot, of the FDJ team, claimed his maiden Giro stage after dominating a five-man bunch sprint at the end of a thrilling 190 km ride from Pordenone to Asiago that saw Dumoulin’s rivals attack the Dutchman throughout.
Quintana, the 2014 champion, finished just behind Pinot in fifth to retain the race lead with a 39sec lead on Italy’s two-time and defending champion Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain) and a 43sec cushion on Pinot.
“I’m very happy to win this stage ahead of some of the best riders in this Giro,” said Pinot, who, as the French time trial champion, will confidently target a podium finish in Milan on Sunday.
“I came for a stage victory, which I’m very happy about because it’s always special to win a stage from a grand tour.
But to win the Giro I will need to have one of the best days of my life on the bike. In any case, I’ll give it everything.”
However Dumoulin, 53secs behind in fourth overall after finishing 15secs behind Pinot,is the overriding favourite for Sunday’s 29.3 km race against the clock from Monza to Milan.
After handing the pink jersey to Quintana on the final summit of Piancavallo to drop to second overall at 38secs on Friday, Sunweb team leader Dumoulin was warned he would be in for a tough, final day in the mountains.
Quintana, Nibali and Pinot kept to thir word with a series of attacks on the final, 14km climb to Foza that preceded a final rolling section leading to Asiago.
But their combined efforts failed to shake the Dutchman, who for the closing kilometres was left in a five-man group containing allies in Bob Jungels (Quick Step), Adam Yates (Orica) and fellow Dutchman Bauke Mollema (Trek).
Luckily, I had better legs than yesterday,” Dumoulin said at the finish.
“I absolutely killed myself, but I’m forever thankful and grateful to the help from Bauke Mollema, Adam Yates and Bob Jungels.”
On the 10th stage time trial where he took the pink jersey for the first time in this 100th edition, Dumoulin was over two minutes faster than Nibali and nearly three minutes faster than Quintana.
At the finish, Quintana looked resigned to defeat as he said: “We tried our hardest to take time from him (Dumoulin), but he found some allies.
We took some time, which is better than nothing.”
Another top performance into Milan on Sunday could see Dumoulin become the first Dutch winner of the ‘maglia rosa’.
But he added: “We’ll see. It all depends on the legs tomorrow. I’m already very happy it worked out today.”
Fantastic excitement in televised darts. MVG is a beast.
Was really hoping for a come back, almost looked promising at one stage but sure look. Great to watch regardless
one of the most over rated sports ever, only reason people watch it is for a piss up
A game not a sport
I watched it sober Stilphil Brady.
do yout mean all people watching at home are having a piss up?
Darts is always a great way to finish off the Christmas break. Great darts this year. Hats off to Van Gerwen he’s a special player.
Jesus that was sick . Anderson could have went 3-1 up then bang he’s gone. Mvg is on fire , some darts
Even Taylor in his prime wouldn’t be able to live with this, well deserved title considering the year he had and would’ve been a travesty if he didn’t win it. Great effort by Gary Anderson also he is the only one that can worry MVG and he could still win another one or two.
I love Anderson but MVG really deserved it, unbeatable at the minute
Barney deserves a serious mention too, was truly heartbroken after the semi but the best man won in the end.
murt barney was feeling sorry for himself bit of a whinger in fairness (wonderful player)
Serious athletes
I assume you mean that as a joke? Haha
Your a top athlete yourself Gearoid,
The man is a machine
Bit like yourself ger
How athletic are you David? F*****g keyboard warrior!
I wouldn’t be an Olympian, but I can run a bit and lift a bit. You know, a reasonable level of fitness for an average thirty something male? Keeps the waist under the 34″
Plenty of ppl can lift doesn’t mean there athletes Dave.
Never claimed I was an athlete, I just insinuated that Darts players are not athletes. Darts is not a sport. It’s a game, albeit an entertaining one.
is it a shirt you lift David
Looking forward to Gerry Adams inevitably winning the junior B darts now on bbc…
Good old Wolfie
haha Gerry Adams,not on the BBC anymore im afraid.i think BT have it this year.
channel 4 for live afternoon coverage Glenn.
The lad that ran on stage and robbed the trophy was the highlight for me
He showed more athleticism than the two lads
He will have a sore jaw and ribs by the time those bouncers turfed him out the door
And rightly so. Tosser. Great match though.
Incredible that these lads get 350k for throwing a few sticks at a board. Anderson got a spanking in the game – but even so was laughing and joking away in a final, would never see a footballer happy with finishing 2nd on the World Cup/Euros. Not a sport, they are slobs.
And you’re an egg… You cracked wh**e like to see you be that accurate… Now off on the fitness regime your wife has you on and cycle to your rubbish job like the rest of us… They are no doubt laughing at you!
@An Ubh: Anderson laughing as hes good spirited and he knew he lost to the better player on the night would you prefer to see him bitter and resentful like yourself?. Throwing sticks is stupid description. If so isnt Soccer kicking a ball into a net, isnt formula one driving around in a ring isnt brain surgery just having a root around up there to remove the bad bits??. Can describe anything at all in a flippant way.
Great comment above me there, the egg is clearly a jealous imbecile
With finishing like mvg had he must have Tipperary blood , lethal finisher
Thanks Dave
Van Gerwan, is on PED’s. Look at the physique on him.
@Derek o keeffe: Agreed, think they made his hair fallout and do something to his voice too. Wonder if the Russian hackers will raid WADA files on himself & Taylor!!