May 27/14 11:45 am - Giro d'Italia: Stage 16 results

Posted by Editoress on 05/27/14
 

Stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia, Ponte di Legno – Val Martello (136 km), saw victory for the Colombian Nairo Quintana (Team Movistar) who also took the lead in the General Classification.

In a stage affected by poor weather, with snow and freezing temperatures on the Passo Gavia and the Passo dello Stelvio, the overall standings were reshaped by Quintana, the new race leader, 1'41" ahead of Rigoberto Uran (9th in the stage at 4'11") and 3'21" ahead of Cadel Evans (tenth in the stage at 4'48").

Post stage quotes

Recon: “When I came to look at the Giro stages, we couldn’t go very far up the Stelvio because it was covered in snow. After the climb, we looked at part of the descent, and then the climb to Val Martello.”
 
The attack: “The peloton was compact until the ascent of the Stelvio. Then the attacks started: there was a  rider with Team Colombia, two riders from of AG2R, one from Sky. They started to descend fast. I just stayed on a team-mate’s wheel. I didn’t hear anything about the descent being neutralised. Nor did my team-mates: we were just god to cover up well for the descent. We came down at some speed, and at the foot of the descent I realised that there were 6 of us in a group behind the breakaway. In any case, the time I gained on my rivals was mostly made on the final climb. I don’t see any grounds for controversy.”

On the mend: “I’ve been recovering from the flu. As you can see, I still get coughing fits, but I can feel my body getting better. I think my rivals will attack on the coming climbs, but I have a great team, as you saw on the Stelvio, where almost all of us rode together as a signal unit. And I think they’ll help me control the race as far as Trieste.”
 
You don’t lose your class: “I’ve been confirming my 2nd place in the Tour de France all season. I won the Tour de San Luis at the start of the year, then finished 2nd in Tirreno-Adriatico, 5th in the Tour of Catalonia, just a few seconds behind the winner. So my 2nd place in the Tour last years wasn’t a fluke. I’ve worked hard and I continue to work hard for to be a Grand Tour contender. My objective here was to win the Maglia Rosa. Now I’m wearing it, despite the fact that many people had written me off because of my problems. But you don’t lose your class.”

Results from today's sixteenth stage in Italy