Astana confident Vincenzo Nibali will regain lost time in Giro d'Italia mountain time trial
Vincenzo Nibali lost 37 seconds to Esteban Chaves and Steven Kruijswijk on stage 14 of the Giro d'Italia, but his team don't believe it's game over

Vincenzo Nibali on stage 14 of the Giro d'Italia (Sunada)

Vincenzo Nibali showed signs of weakness in the Giro d'Italia's Dolomite stage, but his Astana team remain confident that he can gain time, and perhaps the pink jersey lead, in Sunday's time trial.
New race leader Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo) and eventual stage winner Colombian Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) dropped Nibali on the final Valparola climb. The winner of all three Grand Tours, including the 2013 Giro, arrived to the sun-soaked ski village of Corvara 37 seconds behind.
With the bonus seconds calculated in, Kruijswijk took the pink jersey by 41 seconds over Nibali and 1-32 over Chaves.
"Nibali kept his rhythm and continued well after being dropped," Astana general manager Alexander Vinokourov said. "He didn't lose much and the team rode exceptionally today. Tomorrow, he can return in the time trial. Every day, he's going better. After tomorrow, there are still two very hard days. The Giro only ends in Turin."
Giro race officials whisked Kruijswijk and Chaves into the podium area. Nibali slowed to a stop below the podium surrounded by team helpers and media. Overnight leader Andrey Amador and his Movistar team-mate Alejandro Valverde refused to stop after a dark day.
How are Cannondale preparing for the Giro d'Italia's mountain time trial?
Nibali and his Astana gang of team-mates including Michele Scarponi and Jakob Fuglsang worked to dislodge Amador and Valverde over the Passo Giau and the Valparola. Valverde cracked on the last climb. Shortly after, Kruijswijk went and Chaves followed, leaving behind the Italian champion.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"We maintained a high rhythm and honestly, I thought that Valverde was going to be better," Nibali said after wiping off sweat from his face.
"[Chaves and Kruijswijk] made a great move. I had to ease up a bit and manage my strength. I don't know if they found help with the riders ahead in the escape, but on my own, it was hard because there was a lot of wind, also in my face. It was not easy.
"They were always there in my view over the final kilometres. I was able to come very close at one minute. But they were taking turns, so for them it was so much easier."
Nibali began the race as the heavy favourite with wins in the Giro, Tour de France and Vuelta a España already on his palmarès. After Mikel Landa (Sky) and Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) abandoned, even more attention fell on his shoulders. Now, though, Kruijswijk and Chaves are taking some of that away.
"We need to rest because today was a truly difficult day. The Giro changed, now it's Kruijswijk and Chaves," he added. "In the time trial tomorrow? I don't know how I'll go, I don't want to bet."
He and the others will race a 10.85-kilometre time trial up the Alpe di Siusi on Sunday. On Monday, they will rest ahead of the final week to Turin.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Kim Le Court outsprints Demi Vollering and Puck Pieterse to take Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes victory
Mauritian edges out former Tour de France Femmes winner and La Flèche Wallonne champion to take unexpected win
By Tom Thewlis
-
Urgent search launched for British Paralympian reported missing in Las Vegas
GB para-cyclist Sam Ruddock was last heard from on 16 April
By Tom Davidson
-
'It's a small advantage' - Why different coloured socks and gloves could be the new marginal gain in team time trials
XDS Astana wore fluorescent shades for a reason at Paris-Nice, explains Alex Dowsett
By Tom Davidson
-
Changing of the guard: Seven top cyclists who have retired in 2022
Vincenzo Nibali, Alejandro Valverde and Tom Dumoulin have all called time on their careers this year
By Tom Thewlis
-
Italian neo-pro Michele Gazzoli banned for one year for 'non-intentional' anti-doping violation
23-year-old has Astana-Qazaqstan contract terminated as a result of sanction
By Adam Becket
-
‘I was rubbing shoulders with Nibali and Valverde’ - Oliver Knight gets starstruck at Vuelta a Burgos
UAE Team Emirates rider makes big step up in key race before the Vuelta a España
By Tom Thewlis
-
Miguel Ángel López suspended by Astana-Qazaqstan over reported links to doctor under police investigation
Team suspend Colombian rider until circumstances of the Police investigation are clarified
By Tom Thewlis
-
Vincenzo Nibali rolls back the years with shark attack on stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia
37-year-old up to fifth on general classification with five stages left
By Adam Becket
-
The general classification just got even tighter: Five talking points from stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia 2022
There was climbing, climbing, and more climbing on Tuesday
By Adam Becket
-
Miguel Ángel López forced to abandon Giro d'Italia on stage four
Astana-Qazaqstan rider suffering from hip injury
By Adam Becket