2017 Giro d'Italia Stage 11 Results & Recap
Stage 11 of the 2017 Giro d'Italia is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
Break away star Fraile takes stage 11 win
Four classified climbs in today’s stage 11 for a total of 161 kilometers, stage 11 of the Giro d’ Italia had the makings to shake up the general classification. In the end a break away, once again, ruled the stage with Omar Fraile (Dimension Data) taking the stage win. Tom Dumoulin was able to stay with his rivals and hold onto the maglia rosa.
The first climb of the day, the Passo dello Consuma, several riders tried to break away. However nothing stuck, but the result of all these attacks shredded the peloton. One victim was Dimension Data’s Nathan Haas who abandoned.
The first serious break of Laurens De Plus (Quick-Step Floors) and Igor Antón (Dimension Data) had a gap on the climb with De Plus taking the maximum KOM points. On the descent they were able to expand their lead to over two minutes. As expected these two didn’t last long off the front and were absorbed by a larger group of 23 riders.
It didn’t take long for another attack. Mikel Landa (Team Sky) and Omar Fraile (Dimension Data) launched and on the category 3 climb of the Passo Della Calla the two were 1:53 in front of the chase group of 23, and over five minutes in front of the pink jersey peloton. At the front of the main group was the Sunweb team. Also tucked in the group was second place on GC Nairo Quintana, bidding his time.
On the descent Franco Pellizotti (Bahrain Merida) crashed, a BMC rider also went down, and two Movistar riders were on the side of the road either exchanging a wheel or arguing. It was a tense downhill!
Meanwhile, Landa and Fraile chugged away on the category 3 Passo del Carnaio. They had a lead over the chase group of almost three minutes, with the maglia rosa group over five minutes further back.
The riders approached another category 3 climb, the Passo Del Carnaio. Landa and Fraile maintained their over two minute lead over the chasing group, and the maglia rosa group was 4:48 further back. It looked like everyone was waiting for the final fireworks to happen in the closing kilometers of the stage.
Fraile took the KOM at the top of the Carnaio with Landa not bothering to contest it - he had plans on a stage win. The chase group remained at a steady two minutes 20 seconds back, with the maglia rosa four minutes and 40 behind. As expected the main general classification protagonists were waiting for the final classified climb of the day - the category 2 Monte Fumaiolo.
It was on this category 2 climb that the duo started to lose time and at 40 kilometer to go they were caught by the chasers. The main peloton was gradually pulling back the break. However, this was too much for BMC’s Tejay van Garderen who was dropped from the main group.
Sunweb, FDJ, and Trek were leading the charge to bring back the break. Movistar sat behind the three teams, waiting for their moment to attack. Finally, the attacks for the general classification began. Landa and Fraile were caught by the chase. Landa couldn’t keep up and was dropped by the chase. Fraile was able to hang on to the now lead group - a great sign for this rider.
There were several surges from the now reduced front group and amazingly, Fraile was able to not only respond, but caught Pierre Rolland who had attacked, pass the Frenchman, and take the KOM points over the top of the climb. Now Fraile had another new break away partner - Rolland.
On the descent and just 8 kilometers to the finish Rui Costa joined Rolland and Fraile. They had the much needed horsepower to safely stay away as they had a slim 18 second lead. Out of the chase group Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team) attacked and caught the three riders with just three kilometers remaining.
Back in the pink jersey group Vincenzo Nibali attacked. The effect was that lesser riders were dropped from the group, but the main general classification riders were able to respond. It was clear that Tom Dumoulin was going to survive this stage with his leadership intact and the stage winner was coming from the break away.
With less than one kilometer to go the four riders were absorbed by the chasers, but that didn’t hamper Fraile from out sprinting the group and taking the stage win. It was really remarkable considering that he had been in a break most of the day.
One minute and 38 seconds later the pink jersey group rolled across the finish line, and Dumoulin’s lead intact.
In a post-stage interview Dumoulin described the stage, “It was a good day. We expected a lot of attacks, but we stayed calm.”
Tomorrow is the longest stage of the Giro and one for the sprinters. It should be an “easy” day for the Sunweb rider.
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