Giro d'Italia 2016: Full Standings and Highlights After Stage 19 Results
Stage 19 of the 2016 Giro d'Italia was conquered by Italian hero Vincenzo Nibali, but it was Esteban Chaves who claimed the Maglia Rosa, as general classification leader Steven Kruijswijk crashed on Friday.
The stage was plagued by serious accidents, as the Netherlands' Kruijswijk spectacularly drove off the road on a snow-hit descent in the pink jersey.
The Dutchman was affected by snow blindness. He dramatically veered off the course, propelling his bike into the air as he flipped over the frame.
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However, Kruijswijk recovered to mount a new bike and continue his challenge while he chased the stage leaders—but his efforts were in vain, and he ran out of steam.
The Giro posted a picture of the stage winner with the Italian crowds cheering his effort:
Ilnur Zakarin of Team Katusha also suffered a serious crash that ended his participation in the grand tour, with medics rushing to his aid as he lay prostrate off the roadside.
The all-rounder was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment.
Sky Sports Cycling provided the stage result and new general classifications after the stage:
The Giro provided details of the stage:
Stage 19 proved to be one of the most gruelling of the 2016 Giro, with Kruijswijk fighting to defend his three-minute lead on the overall field.
The peloton had no desire to attack early on as the riders prepared for the mountains and adverse conditions ahead.
Hubert Dupont, Matteo Montaguti, Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev, Michele Scarponi, Stefano Pirazzi and Andre Cardoso were amongst a group of 28 who made the earliest break as Team Sky and Movistar positioned themselves.
Sky opted to control the pace, as the peloton lagged behind the leaders, four minutes off the leading pace.
Chaves attacked Kruijswijk in an attempt to reduce his GC lead, but the pink jersey quickly closed the advantage. Home favourite Nibali joined the race for pink, and Chaves continued to increase his speed, but Kruijswijk looked comfortable and in control.
Disaster struck for Kruijswijk. He wrecked his bike in a dangerous crash, as visibility was ruined by the weather. The Maglia Rosa could not hold his line as he sprinted downhill, and he flew off into the snow, with his bike flipping in the air and clear of the overall leader.
The Dutchman put aside any sustained injuries to remount a new bike and carry on his charge, but he immediately lost two minutes from his GC lead.
Chaves and Nibali attacked further as the pink jersey dug in, but Kruijswijk was clearly affected by the steeper gradient in the latter stages.
The Inner Ring commented on the GC leading rider:
The Giro shared the final climb to the finish line:
Kruijswijk had cracked with eight kilometers to ride, leaving Nibali and Chaves to battle up the field. Bob Jungels quickly dropped Kruijswijk in a bad day for the GC king, with his overall challenge in tatters.
Nibali attacked once more with 5.5 kilometers remaining, as the Shark tested the stage leading group headed up by Alejandro Valverde of Movistar. The Italian was in no mood to allow the front group to knock seconds off his GC placing, and he appeared in fine fettle as he climbed hard and took the outright lead.
However, despite losing slight ground, Chavez maintained his cadence up the gradient as the top riders entered the final three kilometers, but he couldn't reach the Shark.
Nibali crossed the line to huge cheers, obtaining a win that gives him a minor chance of Giro glory. Chavez is now the favourite to take the title, with his competitors falling by the wayside.
Kruijswijk dominance was shattered on Friday, and with the stages evaporating in number, it will be difficult for him to harbour hopes of Giro success.
Nibali has an outside chance of winning the grand tour on home soil after a wonderful performance on an exciting and breathtaking stage of racing, but Chavez will know his advantage should be enough if he stays on the bike.
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