Giro 2018 Stage 10: Mohoric’s maiden Giro win, Yates stays in pink

At 244km, Stage 10 was the longest stage of this year’s Giro d’Italia, a rather brutal reintroduction to racing after the second rest day, made more complicated by early climbs and a rolling terrain. These transition stages are typically boring, but not this one. Within the first hour or so of racing, second-placed Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott) was back in the gruppetto – losing 25min in all. Victory came from a late break, crafted by some hair-raising descending, and a two-man drag race for the line where Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Merida) proved stronger than Nico Denz (Ag2r-La Mondiale). Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe), best of the rest, rounded out the podium. Maglia rosa Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) stays in pink; Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) moves up to second overall, at 41 seconds, with Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) third at 46 seconds.

Rider of the Race

First stage win for @matmohoric at Giro! | Prima vittoria al Giro per @matmohoric!#Giro101 pic.twitter.com/Tg08fCw2Fz

— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 15, 2018

There can only be one winner today, 23-year-old Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Merida) who slipped out of the main peloton (again), this time in the company of Astana’s Davide Villella with around 30km remaining – Mohoric had been part of the stage’s initial mass break-out. The pair, former teammates, worked together to overhaul the sole leader, Marco Frapporti (Androni-Sidermec) who was busy collecting Fuga Pinarello kilometres. On the wet descents, Mohoric treated us to a descending masterclass, at the end of which Villella was distanced. But Mohoric had gained another companion, Nico Denz (Ag2r La Mondiale), part of a further three-man break, who’d worked hard on the descent – nearly taking out Villella – to bridge.

Villella is not a bad descender, Mohoric is just absolutely excellent. Never forget the way he won the U23 road race in Florence, catching Alaphilippe downhill and then soloing away to victory. Also the day descending techniques changed forever. #Giro101

— Mikkel Condé v2.0 (@mrconde) May 15, 2018

The duo co-operated to build an unbeatable gap but ultimately Denz didn’t have the legs. He allowed Mohoric to lead through the final kilometre and was able to stay in the latter’s slipstream as he started to sprint. It was neck and neck as Denz tried to surge past Mohoric, whose second wind took him over the line for his maiden Giro victory.

Post-race the jubilant winner said:

I’m super happy – not just for me but for the team. They gave me this opportunity even though Domenico [Pozzovivo] is feeling very good for the GC. He gave me a free pass today to play for the stage win, and I’m super happy for it.

My fellow VeloVoice should’ve had more faith!

I tipped Mohoric for a stage won in the @VeloVoices Giro preview so he’s doomed.

— Journal Velo (@JournalVelo) May 15, 2018

Today’s big storyline

Embed from Getty Images

Joaquim Rodriguez, Tejay Van Garderen, Mikel Landa, Esteban Chaves. Victims of the pesky rest day.

— Mihai Cazacu (@faustocoppi60) May 15, 2018

Second-placed overall at the start of today’s stage, Esteban Chaves dropped out of contention when he was distanced, with the peloton pouring out the power, on the early second-category climb to Fonte della Creta and, after a prolonged chase, aided by Quick-Step, said goodbye to his hopes at this Giro.

Sean Kelly said the Chaves group was about 1min from regaining contact when the road tilted back up and the GC rivals turned on gas again … huge blow to Mitchelton-Scott today

— Andrew Hood (@EuroHoody) May 15, 2018

Commentators (endlessly) speculated why this had happened. According to Mitchelton-Scott team management, he was suffering from pollen allergies. But the little Colombian was more sanguine:

That’s the Giro. I’ve got a difficult relationship with Italy – it’s love and hate. Just a few days ago I enjoyed one of the best days of my career and now it’s hard for my morale. But that’s life, we can only do our best. The important thing is that we’ve still got the leader’s jersey. Our plans won’t change.

We’ve still got to understand my problems. I just didn’t have the strength and couldn’t stay with the best on the first climb. We tried to chase with the team and got to within one minute but it didn’t work out.

Consequently, everyone else moves up a place on GC. Amazingly, Chaves managed a smile as he crossed the line. He’d probably read this tweet!

25 minutes lost by Esteban Chaves today. He will probably get that back in a breakaway. This is the Giro, don't forget. 🙈 #Giro101

— Mihai Cazacu (@faustocoppi60) May 15, 2018

Stage results

1 Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Merida) 6:04:52

2 Nico Denz (Ag2r-La Mondiale) same time

3 Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe) +0:34

4 Enrico Battaglin (LottoNL-Jumbo) s/t

5 Davide Ballerini (Androni-Sidermec) s/t

GC Top 10

1 Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) 43:42:38

2 Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) +0:41

3 Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) +0:46

4 Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida) +1:00

5 Richard Carapaz (Movistar) +1:23

6 George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo) +1:36

7 Rohan Dennis (BMC) +2:08

8 Pello Bilbao (Astana) +2:08

9 Michael Woods +2:28

10 Chris Froome (Sky) +2:30

All the jerseys

#Giro101 It was a long and tough stage but @SimonYatess is able to hold onto the 👚 for another day 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/GuTzoJYqvE

— Mitchelton-SCOTT (@MitcheltonSCOTT) May 15, 2018

Leader’s jersey: Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott)

Points jersey: Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors)

KOM jersey: Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott)

Best young rider: Richard Carapaz (Movistar)

For full review of the stage, go to Cycling News