Carapaz wins in Castelnovo ne' Monti, Del Toro gets the bonus and stays in pink. Tiberi does well

CASTELNOVO NE' MONTI – Richard Carapaz took the Castelnovo ne' Monti stage with a masterstroke on the climb to Pietra di Bismantova. Del Toro, second, earned a 6” time bonus on his direct rivals. For the rest, the Apennine stage between Viareggio and the mountains of Reggio Emilia reiterated what the Giro has said so far: great balance, but one team, UAE, in control with the quality of its captains, but also of their gregarious riders. A taste of what could happen in the final week was had on the climb to Alpe di San Pellegrini: Bernal's attack, cancelled out by Del Toro and Ayuso, together. Tiberi did well again, always in control on a day when it was easy to get timing wrong and waste energy. Del Toro has a 31” lead over Ayuso and a 1’07” lead over Tiberi. Ciccone is 7th at 2’09”. The Giro is therefore still all to be written. And Carapaz, now sixth, cannot be ignored for the final success. "Today was a rather difficult stage," explains the Tokyo Olympic champion, "with many riders in difficulty right from the first climb. I, on the other hand, had good legs and seized the opportunity. I found myself alone, so it was like a time trial to the finish line. I wasn't disappointed yesterday: I know that time trials are not my strong point. Today I had confirmation that I am in good condition and can continue to fight. Winning this stage is something special and very emotional, because it comes after a lot of work and I wanted it for my family, for my friends. I will fight until the end to win the Giro." "I looked at my teammates," are Del Toro's first feelings, "and having the whole team together seemed incredible. When Carapaz started I felt I had good legs, but I decided not to try. Then I wanted to try, but I saw that the rest of my teammates were not with me. In any case, I am very satisfied."

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An hour flat on the ground to create the day's breakaway, then the route selects an initial group of 30 riders. On the climb of Alpe San Pellegrino the discussion is reduced to five men: Fortunato and Poels (Astana), Plapp (Jayco), Bilbao (Bahrain) and Quintana (Movistar). Right on the last part of San Pellegrino, in the 3 km hardest probably of the entire Giro, Egan Bernal tries, having fallen in the Pisa time trial and eager to make up for lost time: Del Toro and Ayuso immediately jump on the Colombian. The action lasts very little: Tiberi and the others come back almost immediately. At that point the rhythm of the big names drops and the leading group runs away, with almost 3 minutes of margin. It is a very nervous stage, with practically no flat areas. Suddenly, with 32 to go, after the Toano breakaway, Lidl-Trek takes the initiative in favor of Giulio Ciccone in the main group: a push from Pedersen immediately takes a minute off the breakaway. With 20 to go, the advantage of the five is around a minute. It is on the climb towards the wonderful Pietra di Bismantova , in a Dantesque atmosphere (it is appropriate to say so) that the stage is decided: decisive attack by Richard Carapaz. The Ecuadorian, winner of the 2019 Giro, immediately gains 30” and defends about ten on the finish line in Castelnovo ne' Monti . In second place Del Toro (who therefore gains a 6” bonus), third Ciccone, then all the men in the standings, with Tiberi 6th behind Bernal but ahead of Ayuso. Adam Yates and McNulty lose about thirty seconds and two positions respectively. Carapaz climbs back to 6th place at 1'56” from Del Toro. Another great stage. Now a day for sprinters on the flat Modena-Viadana.