Favourite crashes out, leader's advantage slashed in chaotic Giro D'Italia stage

[ad_1] A gripping sixteenth stage of the Giro d'Italia has ended with the pre-race favorite out, the chief simply hanging on to the maglia rosa and Italy celebrating a 1-2-3.

Amid the chaos, Australia's Michael Storer moved up 5 locations to be considered one of round eight riders nonetheless in rivalry to be in pink on the rostrum in Rome on Sunday.

Pre-race favorite Primož Roglič, the 2023 champion, deserted after struggling his fourth crash in just every week in a stage initially made treacherous by torrential rain.

Isaac del Toro, the 21-year-old Mexican using his second grand tour, held on to the maglia rosa, however solely simply, as he was damaged by Simon Yates on the ultimate climb of 4, totalling 4,900m of elevation.

The demanding journey by way of the Dolomites started in rain however led to solar, and it shone on the host nation.

Christian Scaroni led dwelling an all-Italian trio for the primary dwelling stage win of this yr's race, hand-in-hand with the mountains chief and XDS Astana teammate Lorenzo Fortunato. Giulio Pellizzari (Purple Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe) was third.

Nonetheless, one other Italian, Alessio Martinelli, was hospitalised after sliding right into a ravine.

The VG Group Bardiani-CSF Faizane group mentioned Martinelli was "acutely aware and in secure situation". He was carried up from the ravine on a stretcher by an Alpine rescue group.

Because the gradients rose on the 203km leg from Piazzola Sul Brenta to San Valentino, so did the drama.

Roglič (Purple Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe) was tenth initially of the day, however a fall that additionally concerned Richard Carapaz (EF Training-EasyPost) pressured him to lastly give up with a collection of accidents.

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Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), the 2021 champion, fell in a separate incident however continued.

The absence of reigning champion Tadej Pogačar and Dane Jonas Vingegaard had meant Roglič was favorite when the Giro started.

As crashes derailed the Slovenian's probabilities, Del Toro had begun to look as if he might maintain on to his lead after every week in pink.

However the UAE Crew Emirates-XRG rider's lead was diminished from 1 minute, 20 seconds to 26 seconds forward of Briton Yates (Visma–Lease a Bike) and, 11 seconds additional again, Carapaz.

The Ecuadorian, who received in 2019, had been 2:07 again initially of the stage however produced a robust journey to complete fourth within the stage.

"In finish, I did not have the most effective legs. They weren't unhealthy however they weren't enough. I used to be pleased to make it to the end," Del Toro mentioned.

Del Toro's teammate Juan Ayuso, who was third initially, 1.26 behind, cracked and got here in thirty fifth, 14:47 adrift and out of GC rivalry.

Storer (Tudor) acquitted himself nicely, ending seventh, 1.52 behind the leaders, and is up from twelfth to seventh general, 3.31 behind Del Toro.

Wednesday's Stage 17 is a 155 km leg from San Michele All'Adige to Bormio that includes three climbs — together with the Mortirolo, one of many Giro's hardest and most fabled.