Almeida wins the 16th stage of the Giro, Thomas new pink jersey

The leaders are done waiting. On the slopes of Monte Bondone (21.4 kilometers at 6.7%), arrival of the 16th stage on Tuesday, Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) won his first victory in the Giro. In his wheel, Geraint Thomas (Ineos-Grenadiers) took the pink jersey.

The day after the second day of rest, the favorites suddenly entered the third week of the Giro with the first major explanation between the contenders for the final victory. First striker, Joao Almeida broke away from the group of favorites 6 kilometers from the line, joined by Geraint Thomas. Behind, Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), who drove his team all day, was unable to follow, relying on Sepp Kuss to limit the gaps on his direct opponents, 25 seconds on the line . The amazing Eddie Dunbar (Jayco AlUla) took 4th place in the stage, at the same time as the Slovenian.

The French lose big

Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ) clung to his pink fabric to the last thread, but the Haut-Pyrénéen broke down almost 9 kilometers from the finish under the rhythm of the UAE Team Emirates team. Just like his teammate Thibaut Pinot, who conceded nearly 3 minutes 30 on the winner of the day and lost any chance of appearing well in the final general clification.

Escaped, Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) also got his hands on the best climber’s jersey, coveted by the leader of Groupama-FDJ who is now 50 points behind in the standings.

At the front all day with his brother Valentin in a breakaway of 26 riders, Aurélien Paret-Peintre (AG2R – Citroën), 13th overall this morning and virtual pink jersey during the stage, has his finished side more than 6 minutes 30.

Frenchman Pavel Sivakov (Ineos-Grenadiers), in difficulty for a few days, and Davide Ballerini (Soudal – QuickStep), sick, left the road on Tuesday.