Giro d’Italia Stage 11 Race Report: The hilly stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia was won by Richard Carapaz (EF Education.EasyPost). The Ecuadorian rode away from the other favourites on the final climb and then soloed to victory. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Emirates XRG) led-in a chase group 10 seconds later, to hold the leader’s pink jersey. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) and Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) were third and fourth on the stage.
Stage 11 finale
The stage starts relatively easily, but after 80 of the 185 kilometres the route gets much harder. After about two hours of racing, the Giro starts the Alpe San Pellegrino (14.2km at 8.7%). It is a difficult Cat 1 climb with ramps of up to 20%.
After a long, twisty descent, there are the climbs to Toano (11.2km at 4.9%) and the Pietra di Bismantova (6.5km at 5.2%). After the summit, there are 5 kilometres of undulating roads before the finish in Castelnovo ne’ Monti. A stage for a break? The GC men might have tired legs after the time trial.
The start was in the port of Viareggio
A battle was expected for the early break. Wout van Aert made the first attack of the day, after which there was a big group of over 80 riders who attempted to ride away from the peloton. In that group was Bart Lemmen, Daan Hoole, Mads Pedersen, Milan Vader, Mattia Cattaneo, Wilco Kelderman, Steven Kruijswijk, Wout Poels and overall leader Del Toro. Although after 60 kilometres there was still no escape.
Pink and white jersey teammates – Del Toro and Ayuso
186 kilometres to Castelnovo ne’ Monti
Before the climb of the San Pellegrino, Poels and Kelderman managed to get away. Then around 30 riders managed to cross at the start of the climb. Among them were Luke Plapp, Lorenzo Fortunato, Filippo Zana, Nairo Quintana, Daan Hoole, Mads Pedersen, Matias Vacek, Bart Lemmen and Steven Kruijswijk. Kruijswijk rode at a stiff pace up the San Pellegrino and the gap quickly grew to more than 1 minute. Halfway up the climb, Fortunato attacked.
The climbing was all in the second half of the stage
Egan Bernal rode hard on the San Pellegrino in the peloton. The Colombian thinned out the group of favourites to about 10 riders. One by one, the early escapees were caught, except for Poels, Plapp, Fortunato, Quintana and Pello Bilbao. One of the victims of Bernal’s attack was Thymen Arensman. The Dutchman was dropped quite quickly, but was able to recover quickly on the descent and return.
The break of the day
The new leading group of five took more time on the group of favourites, where more and more riders were able to come back. With 55 kilometres to go, Poels, Plapp, Bilbao, Fortunato and Quintana had a 2:20 lead on the peloton and might just have a chance to fight for the stage win.
Lorenzo Fortunato wanted more KOM points
It looked for a long time like they would succeed. Pedersen had his men work on the front of the peloton with 45 kilometres to go, but it didn’t look like Lidl-Trek would be able to close the gap. Until Pedersen decided to pull hard himself. At the foot of the final climb, the gap was now only 20 seconds and it was the end of the story for the five riders at the front. Poels made one last bid for glory at the front, but it was too late.
The climbing was too much for some of the sprinters
Nairoman showing some of his past climbing style
Richard Carapaz then attacked on the Pietra di Bismantova and immediately had a gap on the other GC riders. The Ecuadorian soon had a 30 second lead on the peloton and the stage victory was in sight.
When the break was caught, Richard Carapaz went on the attack
In the last 5 kilometres, Carapaz was flying and nothing was going to stop him. In Castelnovo ne’ Monti, he took his first stage victory in the Giro d’Italia in six years. Del Toro and Giulio Ciccone finished in second and third place, with Tom Pidcock in fourth.
Carapaz held off the chase
Stage winner, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost): “This stage being a quite difficult one and many people suffering since the first climb, I had good legs and I caught the opportunity to attack at the indicated moment. It could have split the group and I found myself alone, so it’s been a time trial for me till the finish line. I wasn’t disappointed yesterday. I know time trialing isn’t my forte. I saved everything I could. It gave me confirmation that I have good legs and I can continue fighting. It’s something special and emotional to win this stage because it comes after a lot of work and I wanted to please my family, my friends. I’ll try till the end to win the Giro. We have great opponents. I won’t stop fighting until we arrive in Rome.”
Stage win for Carapaz, Ecuador and EF Education-EasyPost
Overall leader and 2nd on the stage, Isaac Del Toro (UAE Emirates XRG): “Wow… he said that? (Egan Bernal said he thinks that Del Toro has a good chance of winning the Giro). “He is my favourite rider. When he had that accident, I was also out. He is such a strong person, I have a lot of respect for him. It’s really incredible. He is my biggest idol. Thank you, I would like to say. We managed it well with the team (today). Of course I wanted to win, but it’s okay, I’m definitely not angry. Confidence is not one of my qualities, but I hope to improve quickly and learn from my teammates, so I can only do better.”
Isaac Del Toro came in 10 seconds later
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Giro d’Italia Stage 11 Result:
1. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) EF Education-EasyPost in 4:35:20
2. Isaac Del Toro Romero (Mex) UAE Emirates XRG at 0:10
3. Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Lidl-Trek
4. Tom Pidcock (GB) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
5. Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (Col) INEOS Grenadiers
6. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
7. Juan Ayuso Pesquera (Spa) UAE Emirates XRG
8. Einer Rubio Reyes (Col) Movistar
9. Derek Gee (Can) Israel-Premier Tech
10. Diego Ulissi (Ita) XDS Astana.
Giro d’Italia Overall After Stage 11:
1. Isaac Del Toro Romero (Mex) UAE Emirates XRG in 38:47:01
2. Juan Ayuso Pesquera (Spa) UAE Emirates XRG at 0:31
3. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain Victorious at 1:07
4. Simon Yates (GB) Visma | Lease a Bike at 1:09
5. Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 1:24
6. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) EF Education-EasyPost at 1:56
7. Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Lidl-Trek at 2:09
8. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Emirates XRG at 2:16
9. Adam Yates (GB) UAE Emirates XRG at 2:33
10. Thymen Arensman (Ned) INEOS Grenadiers.
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