Eventful is an understatement for what went on this week in the Giro d’Italia! If you missed anything this week, here are stages 14 through 19 highlights, plus a bonus Orica Backstage Pass, for your viewing pleasure.
Stage 14
The Queen stage was a most testing day for the riders: Andrey Amador lost the pink, Esteban Chaves won the stage and we had a new Dutch leader.
Stage 15
It was a gruelling uphill individual time trial – there were definite winners (Steven Kruijswijk for one), there were definite losers (Rigoberto Uran) in the GC.
Stage 16
It looked like everyone was going to go down swinging on this super-short stage: Alejandro Valverde takes his first ever Giro stage, Vincenzo Nibali had a disastrous day and Steven Kruijswijk defending the pink with aplomb.
Stage 17
It was supposed to be a sprint stage (for whoever was left in that category) but Roger Kluge decided that, even though IAM Cycling would be no more at the end of the season, we would see their beautiful kit as much as possible in the time remaining.
Stage 18
Etixx-QuickStep continue to have a fabulous Giro with a one-two punch that sees Matteo Trentin getting the perfect set-up from Gianluca Brambilla to steal a stage win from Cannondale’s Moreno Moser.
Stage 19
One of the most anticipated stages in this year’s Giro, it did not disappoint. Attacks, descents and snowbanks changed the complexion of the GC dramatically. Chaves goes into pink, Valverde drops off the podium and Nibali leaps to second.
Added Bonus: Esteban, sprint! sprint!
Orica Backstage Pass sees Esteban Chaves go into pink. Behind the scenes of an epic stage.
Header image: Chaves in pink ©GETTY/Corbis Sport/RS
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