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2014 Giro d’Italia: Stefano Pirazzi raids Stage 17, Quintana still in pink

May 28, 2014
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Last year’s Giro d’Italia king of the mountains winner Stefano Pirazzi (Italy/Bardiani-CSF) triumphed on Wednesday’s Stage 17 from a large breakaway, making Bardiani the undisputed wildcard team champion with three stage wins. Nairo Quintana came in with an easy going peloton 15:36 later to keep the pink jersey and the opportunity to clad himself almost entirely in pink except for his shoes.

The race was still reverberating from the chaos and controversy of Tuesday’s stage. The team managers had a morning meeting, and reportedly expressed their desire that Quintana have anywhere from 55 seconds to 2:00 added to his time.

It took more than 60 of the 204 km from Sarnonico and Vittorio Veneto for a breakaway to gel. Colossal at 26 riders, it pulled out a large gap that ensured the day’s winner would emerge from the mob. Tim Wellens (Belgium/Lotto-Belisol) was in the escape to take the points at the top of two Cat. 4 climbs and edge closer to Julian Arredondo (Colombia/Trek) in the mountains competition. Enrico Gasparotto (Italy/Astana) was in the escape to practise bike changes after a couple of mechanicals in quick succession. The Movistar-controlled peloton was taking the day off.

Escapee Thomas De Gendt (Belgium/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) decided to zip off the front at the 29-km-to-go mark, and 7 km later had a 20-second gap before the final Cat. 4 lump. Pirazzi bridged over to De Gendt just after the summit. As the remnants of the break chased, some of its members crashed on the wet roads.

Wellens brought two reinforcements up to the leaders and the quintet had a better chance at staying away from the other fugitives. The main peloton was in no hurry in the slick conditions.

The five-man group stuck, its immediate pursuers unable to organize the hunt. Pirazzi launched a strong attack with 1.2 km to go and the corners and slight rise was to his advantage. Pirazzi clung on to make an Italian “up yours” gesture after the line before dissolving into tears of joy.

On Thursday the mountains are back. The Dolomites will serve up a Cat. 2 climb and two Cat. 1 ascents, the second being the summit finish at Val Sugana.


2014 Giro d’Italia stage 17
1) Stefano Pirazzi (Italy/Bardiani-CSF) 4:38:11
2) Tim Wellens (Belgium/Lotto-Belisol) s.t.
3) Jay McCarthy (Australia/Tinkoff-Saxo) s.t.
33) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Garmin-Sharp) +15:36
144) Svein Tuft (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) s.t.

2014 Giro d’Italia GC
1) Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Movistar) 73:05:31
2) Rigoberto Uran (Colombia/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) +1:41
3) Cadel Evans (Australia/BMC) +3:21
9) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Garmin-Sharp) +4:16
158) Svein Tuft (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +3:57:04