Tadej Pogacar was imposed in stage 20 of the Italy spin, this Saturday between Alpago and Bassano del Grappaof 184 kilometers, with a double pass through Monte Grappa, achieved his sixth partial victory and confirmed himself in the leadership, while Daniel Martinez (Bora) maintained second place overall and increased the difference over his rivals and Einer Rubio (Movistar) rose in the general classification.
It was a difficult fraction through the first category Monte Grappa pass, where Nairo Quintana won in 2014 after a 26 km time trial, but this time the fight for second place between Martínez and Geraint Thomas (Ineos) was in suspense. .
The surviving cyclists did not have much strength to take the leap in search of making a big difference, so the ideal was to let go of a breakaway and take the day easy. Jimmy Janssens, Henok Mulubrhan, Pelayo Sánchez, Giulio Pellizzari and Alessandro Tonelli were in charge of making their way and taking the lead.
On the first climb to Grappa Pellizzari and Sánchez went ahead and won with 27 seconds over their pursuers and one minute and 36 seconds over the main group.
On the descent, Tonelli, Pelayo and Pellizzari joined them and moved away from the group, which was two minutes behind. When the second ascent to Grappa began, Quintana lost pace with the main group, too early for the support of Einer Rubio.
Pellizzari released Pelayo and went alone, the lot was two minutes and 32 seconds away and 45 km from the finish line. The UAE Emirates team set a strong pace on the climb and Romain Bardet lost his step. Rubio held on and Thomas began to lose meters with Martínez. Pogacar launched his attack 35 km from the finish line and reached the leader Pellizzari.
Daniel Martínez increased the gap on Thomas in the general classification in the climb, but the leader let go of his escape partner and went in search of his sixth victory in this edition of the Giro.
The Slovenian crowned Grappa and launched himself on the descent. Martínez and Rubio did it at one minute and 52 seconds accompanied by Antonio Tiberi.
Thomas with Ben O’Connor did it 12 seconds more and launched themselves on the descent. Thomas’ group approached the two Colombians 20 kilometers from the finish, but Daniel left, in a precise execution to not let the runner reach the b
British, but the Ineos runner finally caught up with the cyclist from Soacha, Cundinamarca. Pogacar, at that point in the stage, had one minute and 52 seconds left and went in search of victory, which came at the end.
This Sunday the Giro ends with a 125-kilometer stage in Rome, the victory ride for the podium riders and those who finish the race.
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