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Froome back to form with win on Zoncolan, Yates pads lead

Dumoulin limits losses, Woods comes 10th

May 19, 2018
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He has had his troubles in the 101st Giro d’Italia, but on Saturday Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky) took a famous win on Mount Zoncolan, holding off race leader Simon Yates (Great Britain/Mitchelton-Scott) in a thrilling finale to Stage 14. Froome is now up to fifth place, but over three minutes behind Yates. Reigning champion Tom Dumoulin (The Netherlands/Sunwwb) managed to limit his losses before the big time trial, while Canada’s Michael Woods placed 10th.

The Course

Although the riders had three Cat. 3 and a Cat. 2 climb along the 186-km route, Stage 14 was all about the mighty Zoncolan summit finish, back for the first time in four years. Zoncolan is one of the hardest climbs in Europe at 10-km of 11.9 percent grade. Its middle is particularly hard, with ramps of 20 percent and 22 percent. Rain clouds threatened the peak.

Yates needed to put a lot of time into Dumoulin on Zoncolan in anticipation of the time trial on Stage 16. Other riders in the top-10 also wanted to pad their times over chrono aces Rohan Dennis in 7th and Chris Froome in 12th. Michael Woods was looking to clamber back into the top-10 from 16th.

The Breakaway

The day’s escape formed on the first climb of the day, the rather steep Monte di Ragogna at the 43-km mark. A chasing trio met the foursome on the valley floor to create a septet. Mitchelton-Scott controlled the peloton pace-making, the fugitive group taking a maximum gap of 6:00.

On the descent of the second climb, Cat. 3 Avaglio, Sky grabbed the reins. The middle ascent, Cat. 2 Passo Duron, averaged 9 percent and crested with 46-km to go. Its grades detached two fugitives from the group, as Sunweb and Astana showed up on the pointy end of the peloton, bringing the gap down to 4:20. By the peak of the penultimate climb, Cat. 3 Selle Valcalda Ravascletto, the two breakaways left out front only led by 1:11.

The Mighty Zoncolan

It was time for the big shootout. The cars were stopped, only motorcycles allowed on the narrow, steep climb.

The breakaway led the way onto the first slopes, Astana and Bahrain-Merida pacing the peloton. The last fugitive, Valerio Conti (Italy/UAE-Emerites) was brought to heel with 6.7-km, Michael Woods making the capture himself. Dumoulin was on the back of the pink jersey group, as was Fabio Aru.

Woods took a little gap for a kilometre.

The Canadian was brought back with 5.7-km to go and then struggled to stay with the favourites, as did best young rider Richard Carapaz. Only eight riders remained in the pink group with 4.8-km remaining.

Froome attacked with 4.3-km to go and Domenico Pozzovivo and Yates grabbed his wheel. Then Froome left the duo behind, churning quickly with elbows out. Dumoulin and Thibaut Pinot were a little further back. Yates lit out after his compatriot on his own.

Froome still had 11-seconds over Yates with 2-km to go. Angel Lopez became the third rider on the road, with Dumoulin 24-seconds behind Yates. The gap was 7-seconds at the red kite. The final 400-metres was edge-of-your-seat stuff. Froome clung on to his lead for the win.

Pozzovivo came by Lopez for third, taking over third place on GC from Pinot, while Dumoulin kept a cool head and is now 1:27 behind Yates on GC. Lopez takes over the white young rider’s jersey from Carapaz by 16-seconds.

Woods was 11th on the day, 1:42 behind Froome, bouncing up to 12th.

Sunday is another hilly ride in the Dolomites with an uphill finish.

2018 Giro d’Italia Stage 14
1) Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky) 5:25:31
2) Simon Yates (Great Britain/Mitchelton-Scott) +0:06
3) Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy/Bahrain-Merida) +0:23
10) Michael Woods (Canada/EF-Drapac) +1:43

2018 Giro d’Italia GC
1) Simon Yates (Great Britain/Mitchelton-Scott) 47:08:21
2) Tom Dumoulin (The Netherlands/Sunweb) +1:27
3) Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy/Bahrain-Merida) +1:37
12) Michael Woods (Canada/EF-Drapac) +5:26

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