Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) took his second stage win at Novi Ligure in the home of the super champions (campionissimi) Fausto Coppi and Costante Girardengo as he outsprinted Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) and Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) who swapped positions in the lead of the points competition with the Frenchman now 11 points ahead of the German. Valerio Conti (UAE Team Emirates) retained the Maglia Rosa for the sixth day running.
STATISTICS
Third stage win at the Giro for Caleb Ewan after stage 7 to Alberobello in 2017 and stage 8 to Pesaro this year. It’s the 33rd victory for Australian riders at the Giro. The last Australian to win two stages in a single Giro was Michael Rogers in 2014 on stage 11 to Savona and stage 20 to Monte Zoncolan.
Caleb Ewan is the first Australian to win three stages of the Giro before turning 25. Michael Matthews got two: stage 6 to Montecassino in 2014 and stage 3 to Sestri Levante in 2015.
Six days in the lead of the Giro d’Italia for Valerio Conti, it’s the same number as Luigi Ganna, the first ever winner of the Giro in 1909.
FINAL RESULT
1 – Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) – 221km in 5h17’26”, average speed 41.772km/h
2 – Arnaud Demare (Groupama – FDJ) s.t.
3 – Pascal Ackermann (Bora – Hansgrohe) s.t.
Maglia Rosa (pink), general classification leader, sponsored by Enel – Valerio Conti (UAE Team Emirates)
Maglia Ciclamino (cyclamen), sprinter classification leader, sponsored by Segafredo – Arnaud Demare (Groupama – FDJ)
Maglia Azzurra (blue), King of the Mountains classification leader, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Giulio Ciccone (Trek – Segafredo)
Maglia Bianca (white), young rider general classification leader, sponsored by Eurospin – Nans Peters (AG2R La Mondiale)
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Valerio Conti (UAE Team Emirates)
2 – Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo – Visma) at 1’50”
3 – Nans Peters (AG2R La Mondiale) at 2’21”
PRESS CONFERENCE
The Maglia Rosa Valerio Conti said, in the press conference: “My goal last winter was to prepare for one-week races and I did well at Vuelta San Juan in Argentina and second at the Tour of Turkey but the third week of the Giro is an unknown for me. I’ve never ridden for GC in a Grand Tour. To make the top 10 overall would be an important thing but firstly, I have to defend the Maglia Rosa tomorrow.”
The stage winner Caleb Ewan said: “A longer stage today suited me a bit better than yesterday with the other sprinters having sore legs. I followed Pascal Ackermann’s wheel because I knew he’d still be good [despite his crash yesterday]. He had a good lead out so it was a good wheel to sit on. I timed it right. I always considered myself one of the top sprinters. Two stage wins prove that I am really one of them.”
The Corsa Rosa paid a tribute this afternoon to Gianni Brera, the youngest Director of the Gazzetta dello Sport, born 100 years ago, 8 September 1919, in San Zenone al Po. Marking the centenary of his birth two Maglia Rosa were handed over to Franco, son of Gianni Brera and the other to the Town of San Zenone al Po in memory of the journalist-writer, in the presence of the Giro d’Italia Director and of the La Gazzetta dello Sport Vicedirector.
