Brandon McNulty gained the fifteenth stage of the Giro d’Italia on Sunday for his first victory in a Grand Tour whereas Bruno Armirail stored maintain of the chief’s pink jersey as the race prepares for a dramatic and decisive closing week.
McNulty edged out Ben Healy and Marco Frigo at the finish of the powerful 195-kilometer route from Seregno to Bergamo.
“I’m stoked. This was my goal coming here,” McNulty mentioned. “I wished a stage win however I bought sick in the time trial.
“I wanted to finish solo but luckily I managed to win even in a sprint … Let’s hope this win adds to the team’s motivation on GC with Joao Almeida.”
All three had been half of a big breakaway that went early in the stage. Healy attacked on the fourth and closing categorized climb and McNulty caught as much as him on the descent, adopted by Frigo with 10 kilometers remaining.
Frigo was dropped once more on the unclassified climb shortly earlier than the end however the Italian’s excellent descending expertise noticed him catch again as much as the different two, with the end line in sight, establishing the closing dash.
Geraint Thomas led a gaggle of common classification riders throughout the line, virtually seven minutes behind McNulty however 33 seconds forward of Armirail.
That noticed Armirail’s benefit over Thomas minimize to at least one minute, eight seconds. Primoz Roglic was two seconds additional again.
“It’s been difficult to retain the Maglia Rosa,” Armirail mentioned. “It was a tough stage with loads of climbing and there was Einer Rubio at the entrance. He was prone to take the jersey so my teammates needed to tempo all alongside.
“Yesterday I didn’t realize what it was to take the Maglia Rosa but today, with the incredible support of the crowd, I’ve found out what it’s like. It’s huge and I’m delighted to stay in the lead on the rest day.”
The race has its second and closing relaxation day on Monday earlier than heading to the Dolomites and a brutal final week.
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