Jonas Vingegaard moved another step closer to Giro d’Italia glory as he won stage 16 to Cari to extend his overall lead.
The Dane’s fourth stage victory of his debut Giro was his first to come in the pink jersey as he soloed up the final climb to win by one minute and nine seconds from Felix Gall, who nevertheless moved up to second overall, four minutes and three seconds down on Vingegaard.
Vingegaard attacked with six and a half kilometres of the climb still to go, and although Gall initially tried to stick with him, he soon admitted defeat and dropped back to join a chasing group that included Jai Hindley, Thymen Arensman and Derek Gee-West.
Afonso Eulalio, who spent nine days in pink earlier in this Giro, was dropped with nine kilometres left, finishing just over three minutes behind Vingegaard as he relinquished second place overall and dropped down to fifth overall.
This 113km stage from Bellinzona took place entirely in Switzerland, with the short distance encouraging plenty of attacking racing, although the intention of Vingegaard’s Visma-Lease A Bike squad to line up their leader for victory was always apparent.
Stage 17 is another hilly affair, with rolling terrain likely to suit a strong breakaway with more mountainous tests to come over the weekend.
PA
