May 5/18 15:56 pm - Dennis Takes Pink Jersey at Giro, Boivin in Break All Day
Posted by Editoress on 05/5/18
Two days in and the Giro d'Italia has already seen a change in the lead, with Rohan Dennis (BMC) taking over the Maglia Rosa from Stage 1 winner and defending champion Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) after snagging three bonus seconds in an intermediate sprint, and leads by one second. Elia Viviani (Quick Step), who was the pre-stage favourite, did not disappoint, taking the stage win and the Points Jersey.
Guillaume Boivin was part of the 3 rider break
Guillaume Boivin went away solo when the early break was caught
The big Canadian news of the day was the impressive ride by Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy), who joined the early three man break and then went again solo when the break was caught. The initial break stretched their lead to nearly four minutes, but was brought back just after the KoM. Boivin also barely missed taking the KoM Jersey on the only categorized climb when he was caught by Enrico Barbin (Bardiani-CSF) just before the line. BMC controlled the bunch to the sprint for Dennis to take his bonus seconds, but then Boivin attacked alone and stayed away until 16 kilometres to go.
"My goal was to get the King of the Mountains jersey today," admitted Boivin. "When we saw the bunch was coming back so quick, we were a bit surprised. BMC were going to go after the sprint [following the KoM], but we were hoping we were going to have enough time to go after that KOM. But Barbin passed me in the last 100 metres, which was heartbreaking."
Viviani wins
Rohan Dennis takes the pink
Viviani said: "Everyone expected me to win, so I was very nervous this morning. I've returned to the Giro after a two-year absence and a great desire to win. I've had to use my team-mates earlier than planned. I dedicate this victory to my girlfriend Elena. We sacrifice a lot to achieve this kind of result."
Rohan Dennis stated, "I missed the Maglia Rosa by very little yesterday but I made it today thanks to teamwork. My team-mates led me out for 20 kilometres to win this time bonus, and even before then they made sure no one escaped up the road. Viviani, to be honest, he sprinted but he didn't go full. It was good to see him get the stage win after ... not that he gave it to me but, put it this way ... he was kind."
Dennis becomes only the 21st rider to wear the leader's jersey in all three Grand Tours. "It's a special feeling to have the Maglia Rosa. Yesterday was a bit disappointing but the team backed me today and the team did everything possible to put me into pink. It's a great jersey and it's a real honor to be the leader of a Grand Tour and for our team, we wanted to do it for Andy Rihs [BMC team owner who recently passed away]. He put a lot into our team and we wanted to give back to him and to do this for him and his family is a real pleasure for us. I'm sure at some stage it will be taken away from me but I will keep fighting all the way to Rome."
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