Giovanni Visconti wins Giro d'Italia's Col du Galibier stage
Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) took a solo win in Sunday's show-shortened stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia on the Col du Galibier.
Carlos Betancur (Ag2r) placed second, with Przemyslaw Niemiec (Lampre-Merida) in third.
Race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) came in with a compact group of overall favouries to maintain his advantage at the top of the general classification. He leads Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) by one minute and 26 seconds, and Rigoberto Uran (Sky) by 2-46.
Snowfall shortens stage
Race organiser RCS Sport took the decision to shorten the stage by just over four kilometres due to the depth of snow and road conditions at the top of the Galibier. The stage finished in Les Granges du Galibier - Monument Pantani.
After the previous day's attrocious racing conditions, the riders also decided that they would neutralise racing over the initial categorised climb to Col du Mont Cenis. Stefano Pirazzi (Bardiani Valvole) and Robinson Chalapud (Colombia) kicked out near the summit to collect the KoM points on offer, and the racing recommenced.
Giovanni Visconti (Movistar), Pieter Weening (Orica-GreenEdge) and Matteo Rabottini (Vini Fantini) then bridged over to Pirazzi. Visconti attacked his escape companions on the descent and rode clear to crest the Col du Telegraphe solo.
A small group of five riders launched an attack on the Telegraphe, comprising Robert Gesink (Blanco), Robert Kiserlovski (RadioShack-Leopard), Sergio Henao (Sky), Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Francis De Greef (Lotto-Belisol). Gesink, Kiserlovski and Henao posed a danger to the overall classification, and several teams took up the pace-setting of the peloton to eventually chase them down.
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Meanwhile, Visconti pressed on up the Galibier as snow started to fall heavily. Rabottini rode away from Weening and Pirazzi to try and chase down the Movistar rider up front but couldn't match his pace and all three were eventually caught by the contenders group.
Nibali accelerated in the last two kilometres, splintering the lead group but was swiftly caught by a selection containing Uran, Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida) and Evans.
Betancur, Niemiec, Fabio Duarte (Colombia) and Rafal Majka (Saxo-Tinkoff) attacked with the last kilometre with Betancur snatching the lead in the young riders competition from Majka thanks to his bonus time for coming second. Betancur also moved up to seventh overall.
Scarponi led home the contenders group, who were content to come in together safe in the knowledge that another stage had been survived in a race that continues to be heavily affected by the adverse weather.
All four British riders left in the race - Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Steve Cummings, Adam Blythe (Both BMC) and Alex Dowsett (Movistar) finished in a large group that came in 27 minutes and 54 seconds behind stage winner Visconti.
Tomorrow (Monday) is the second rest day of the 2013 Giro d'Italia before the racing restarts on Tuesday, with stage 16 from Valloire to Ivrea over 238km and including two categorised climbs. Full stage 16 preview>>
Results
Giro d'Italia 2013, stage 15: Cesana Torinese to Col du Galibier
1. Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar in 4-40-48
2. Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r La Mondiale at 42 secs
3. Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida
4. Rafal Majka (Pol) Saxo-Tinkoff at same time
5. Fabio Duarte (Col) Colombia at 47 secs
6. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida at 54 secs
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana
8. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing
9. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini
10. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Sky at same time
British
130. Adam Blythe (GBr) BMC Racing at 27-54
135. Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar at 27-54
148. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 27-54
163. Steve Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing at 27-54
Overall classification after stage 15
1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana in 62-02-34
2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing at 1-26
3. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Sky at 2-46
4. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini at 2-47
5. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida at 3-53
6. Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida at 4-35
7. Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r La Mondiale at 5-15
8. Rafal Majka (Pol) Saxo-Tinkoff at 5-20
9. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale at 5-57
10. Benat Intxausti (Spa) Movistar at 6-21
British
137. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 2-40-42
157. Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar at 2-55-31
158. Steve Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing at 2-57-00
175. Adam Blythe (GBr) BMC Racing at 3-28-52
Astana chase
Robert Gesink leads a short-lived escape
Cadel Evans and Vincenzo Nibali lead the contenders pack on Galibier
Giovanni Visconti takes a solo win
Giro d'Italia 2013: Previews and race info
Giro d'Italia 2013: Coverage index
Giro d'Italia 2013: British TV schedule
Giro 2013: 10 things you need to know
Giro d'Italia 2013: The Big Preview
Giro d'Italia 2013: Stage reports
Stage 13: Cavendish takes his fourth stage win of 2013 Giro
Stage 12: Cavendish takes 100th win as Wiggins' Giro bid faltrs
Stage 11: Navardauskas wins as favourites enjoy day off
Stage 10: Uran wins as Wiggins and Hesjedal lose time
Stage nine: Belkov takes solo win as Wiggins put under pressure
Stage eight: Dowsett wins as Nibali takes race lead
Stage seven: Wiggins crashes as Hansen wins
Stage six: Cavendish wins stage six of Giro
Stage five: Degenkolb avoids crash to take win
Stage four: Battaglin sprints to first Giro stage win
Stage three: Paolini takes charge
Stage two: Sky wins team time trial
Stage one: Cavendish wins opener
Giro d'Italia 2013: Photo galleries
Photos by Graham Watson
Stage 15 gallery
Stage 14 gallery
Stage 13 gallery
Stage 12 gallery
Stage 11 gallery
Stage 10 gallery
Stage nine gallery
Stage eight gallery
Stage seven gallery
Stage six gallery
Stage five gallery
Stage four gallery
Stage three gallery
Stage two gallery
Stage one gallery
Team presentation gallery
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Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
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