Daan Hoole first Dutchman to win Giro d’Italia stage #10. He won the grueling 28.6km time trial from Lucca to Pisa, which he completed in an incredible 32 minutes and 30 seconds. His unparalleled show of power ultimately earned him the stage victory. It made him a serious player in this year’s race.
Hoole’s time in the trial had been head-and-shoulders above the rest, a full seven seconds faster than nearest challenger Josh Tarling. Tarling had an admirable foray. Isaac del Toro came in third, 2:22 behind Hoole in 36th. Though it was a disappointment, he still retained the famed pink jersey of the overall leader.
Roglic Makes Strides Despite Setbacks
It was a brutal day of racing for Primoz Roglic, but he led the day’s mountainous stomping to recover big time in the general classification (GC) fight. After suffering crashes on both Sunday and during a pre-stage inspection on Tuesday, Roglic clocked a time that placed him 1 minute and 15 seconds behind Hoole, landing him in 17th place for the stage.
Despite these setbacks, Roglic clawed back 19 seconds on Juan Ayuso, narrowing his deficit in the GC to just 25 seconds. His strong ride moved him up to fifth overall, now at 1 minute and 18 seconds back of del Toro. This stage was crucial for Roglic as he demonstrated resilience and determination amidst the challenges he faced.
Ayuso and the Pursuit of Glory
That and making sure an opponent like Juan Ayuso doesn’t win the time trial, as he eventually did. Yet he remains in a key spot in the all-important points standings. His strong performance was enough to hold him in contention with Roglic. Today, Roglic is just 25 seconds behind him in the GC.
As the race continues toward stage 11, Ayuso will be looking to play defense and maintain his lead. First he needs to defend against any attacks from Roglic and other challengers. Note that Antonio Tiberi and Simon Yates are serious contenders. On stage 12 they will begin classified stage 11 a minute and 1 second behind del Toro and a minute and 3 seconds behind, respectively. The dynamic competitive environment and tension is thin enough to cut in as riders get ready for Day 5 of this grueling race.
Leave a Reply