MOVISTAR’S GIRO D’ITALIA contender Richard Carapaz won stage four on Tuesday as a mass fall in the peloton seven kilometres from the finishing post cost 2017 champion Tom Dumoulin a devastating four minutes in the overall standings.
Dumoulin came second at both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in 2018, as well as winning the 2017 Giro and the 2017 world championships time-trial, making him a chief contender in all major tours and races.
The fall saw a small group of eleven riders get away from the peloton, including overall leader Primoz Roglic and two of his chief contenders to win the Giro, Britain’s Simon Yates and Astana’s Miguel Angel Lopez.
Ecuador’s Carapaz made a long-range sprint for the line from more than 400 metres out with only Australia’s Caleb Ewan and UAE’s Diego Ulissi capable of challenging and ending second and third respectively.
Roglic, a former ski jumper, finished two seconds behind this trio, gaining 16 seconds on all his chief rivals for the 2019 title.
Dutchman Dumoulin freewheeled most of the way to the finishing post after his fall with blood streaming from a knee, with his chances of winning the title in tatters.
He was then whisked away to hospital for x-rays as he said he was unable to bend his knee.
Sunweb sports director Michiel Elijzen admitted Dumoulin’s chances had been massively compromised.
“It looks like its over for the GC,” he said referring to the overall standings.
“It’s hard. We came here to win the Giro,” he said.
“But after four stages if you are four minutes off the leader…”
“We just have to wait and see if he can continue in the Giro,” he said.
Ireland duo Eddie Dunbar and Conor Dunne finished 127th (6:04.12) and 162nd (6:11.09) respectively today, leaving them 98th and 165th in the general classification.
Wednesday’s fifth stage is a short 140km run from Frascati, just south of Rome, to Terracina where a 1.5km home straight should provide a perfect platform for a spectacular sprint finish.
The stage and general classifications can be found here.
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Why is every conversation about Donegal dominated by Jim McGuinness ? No Donegal players are mentioned in the article. Everything written is about McGuinness. Opposition players are analysed and commented but why do journalists only talk about McGuinness when discussing Donegal? It’s been the same all year. It’s like the Chelsea manager, media only talk about the manager, takes pressure off the players?
Oh please! Donegal’s experience!!
That’s why Kerry are going for their 37th all ireland final and Donegal their 3rd!
Kerry all the way and they will show how talented football should be played!
Well you see, I think what Doyle was referring to here is the squads recent experience of winning it. Maybe 2-3 of Donegals starting 15 tomorrow didn’t play and win in 2012. Kerry although traditionally the most successful and experienced county won it last in 2009 with perhaps less of that winning team turning out tomorrow.
It may be of little relevance but I think that was his point.
So where is that gigantic and dangerous looking cup????
It’s in Newtowncunningham in Donegal.
Up the Kingdom donegal for the creamery
I may stick 500 on a donegal win so i might
Donegal for Sam!!! Tir Chonaill Abu!!!