Stage 11 of this year’s Giro d’Italia might not have been the mudfest of 2010’s strade bianche stage, but the drama did not disappoint. Mauro Schmid of Qhubeka Assos took his first professional win in a lung-busting sprint to the line with fellow breaker Alessandro Covi (UAE), three minutes ahead of the GC. But it was race leader Egan Bernal who put the fire in the race as he showed his ruthless side, putting the screws to all his rivals and some clear space between himself and Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana) who now sits in second at 45sec. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) is in 3rd at 1.12. The top 10 got quite the shuffling, with Emanuel Buchmann (Bora) coming out of the stage the best, by jumping from 15th to 6th.
How the race was won
That’s a good question. INEOS Grenadiers had a plan for the day and that plan consisted of letting the breakaway go so they could methodically pull the legs off Egan Bernal’s rivals without having to ride tempo to reel anyone in. Go out, young riders, take as much time as you like! Dream your dreams of glory while we crush those dreams in the guys back here. Be free! Win the stage!
And that’s just what happened.
Eleven young men, strong and true, took that invitation at face value and did just that. They rode away, free and clear.
#Giro stage 11 breakaway: Enrico Battaglin, Alessandro Covi, Dries De Bondt, Francesco Gavazzi, Simon Guglielmi, Roger Kluge, Bert-Jan Lindeman, Lawrence Naesen, Mauro Schmid, Taco van der Hoorn, Harm Vanhoucke. They are 11 minutes ahead with 120 kilometers to go.
— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) May 19, 2021
11-rider breakaway has nearly 13 minutes of a gap!
That's right.
THIRTEEN MINUTES.
#giro104 #giro pic.twitter.com/rhdWxKxc91— VeloNews (@velonews) May 19, 2021
That 13 minutes between them hitting the gravel and the peloton hitting the gravel was possibly the last time in the race that the break was paid attention to at all by the cameras or the commentators. Why? Because … Ganna …
Dark clouds looming over head. Cycling fans around the globe collectively rub their hands together from the comfort of their couches…🙏#Giro104🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/nzbMC0gU39
— Will Newton (@InsidePeloton96) May 19, 2021
Ganna goes great guns
The peloton jostled and pushed and jostled and pushed themselves around and as they hit their first stretch of gravel, the only rider in the INEOS team who has never ridden Strade Bianche was at the front. And he went absolutely apeshit crazy.
Ineos v white roads#Giro #CouchPeloton pic.twitter.com/AcZhS1ec51
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) May 19, 2021
“Get on my wheel, little buddy, and I’ll take you through this gravel at speeds that would make a brave man terrified,” Filippo Ganna said to Egan Bernal. “We are going to be a blur … a blur within all the dust and expectations and we will hear the tiny whimpers of dreams being crushed from all those behind us.”
And that’s just what happened.
Is it time to add Ganna-ing to the cycling lexicon?
Verb.
Meaning = to completely destroy the peloton.#Giro #Giro104
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) May 19, 2021
Ganna gunned it so fast, with such wild abandon, that even he couldn’t keep up with himself and nearly lost control, veering towards a clump of trees. However, Ganna being Ganna, he recovered with barely a batted eyelid. Bernal’s reaction to that was unrecorded.
Good job Ganna is wearing black shorts. #Giro
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) May 19, 2021
Ganna is so strong he's riding with one leg. #CouchPeloton #Giro
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) May 19, 2021
Ganna destroyed the field with Bernal stuck on his wheel. He’s an amazing teammate for Bernal!
— Fred (@fredfalcone) May 19, 2021
But let us be in no doubt. Ganna was the puppet, but Bernal was the puppet master. Who do you think was egging Ganna on … saying, ‘Motopace me, Pippo, and we shall taste victory this day! Before they know they’re in trouble, my rivals will have lost …’
And that’s just what happened.
Flotsam and jetsam
By the time Ganna got Bernal safely through the first section of gravel there were splits everywhere in the peloton. Riders like Guilio Ciccone, Marc Soler and Vincenzo Nibali were still in the front group … but it was only a matter of time.
George Bennett in the main group – plenty of grit (and I don't mean the dirt). #CouchPeloton #Giro
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) May 19, 2021
Remember that sunny day … only Monday! … when Bernal and Evenepoel sprinted for single seconds in the intermediate sprint and laughed and joked when they finished. Oh, how innocent we all were.
Schepdaal, we have a problem pic.twitter.com/3pkngNsDcB
— the Inner Ring (@inrng) May 19, 2021
But seriously, Remco's spot should be approximately taped to Bernal's ass.
— nyvelocity (@nyvelocity) May 19, 2021
Dan Martin, 8th overall, not seen in the Bernal group reports RAI
— the Inner Ring (@inrng) May 19, 2021
Dan losing time on today's stage doesn't really feel like a bolt of lightning from a clear blue sky, I'm afraid.
— Michael Hutchinson (@Doctor_Hutch) May 19, 2021
The way GCN/Eurosport's Sean Kelly loves commentating on chaotic, rough, difficult stages like this one is one of the great pleasures of watching bike racing on TV. #giro
— Michael Hutchinson (@Doctor_Hutch) May 19, 2021
Just in love with this stage. In all points of view. #Giro
— Alexandre Mignot (@AlexandreMignot) May 19, 2021
It all came back together as they neared the second stretch of gravel. By that time, the Ganna engine seized up and he slipped off the back to terrify the gruppetto. But this was only Bernal lulling his rivals into a false sense of security. Because he wasn’t done yet – he was going to make his statement. But first, he let cheekier, over-excited riders seal their own fate.
And that’s just what happened.
Peak Soler
Egan Bernal seeing the opportunity is really sticking the knife in on the gravel. #Giro
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) May 19, 2021
This tactic worked all day long for INEOS.
Remco: Fighting to keep on the main bunch.
Ineos: Puts the hammer down again #Giro pic.twitter.com/QWE7Q5XIa3
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) May 19, 2021
Add to Remco’s woes was the miscommunication between him and his teammate Almeida. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth – and that was just from the team car.
João Almeida currently letting the road decide…#giro104
— tom owen (@tomowencc) May 19, 2021
Evenepoel pulls his radio out. Annoyed about something or just feeling a bit down after being dropped? #Giro
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) May 19, 2021
Existential questions were asked.
At what point did time begin to exist? Can human nature be changed? Where, exactly, is Dan Martin?
These are unanswerable questions.
— Peter Flax (@Pflax1) May 19, 2021
Things were noticed.
Ahem… EF have *THREE* riders in this GC group.
— Luke (@LukeTheCycliste) May 19, 2021
Gifs were deftly provided.
Ciccone, the world’s most enthusiastic pedaller, has not been dampened by a bit of gravel. #Giro #CouchPeloton pic.twitter.com/AiAzeLXfzq
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) May 19, 2021
And they fell one by one.
Stop dropping Ciccone. #Giro #CouchPeloton pic.twitter.com/J0ksIHBOkD
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) May 19, 2021
Rather a brief blazing moment of glory, than no glory at all 🤣
— Lois Horwitz (@LoisHorwitz) May 19, 2021
Seeing Remco was on those gravel roads all on his lonesome #Giro pic.twitter.com/FiZ2865b6f
— Issie 💙 (@IssieAtch) May 19, 2021
Soler dropped. Ciccone dropped. Yates hanging on the back but not being bothered to do anything. Evenepoel losing two minutes. Bernal in complete control.
Other teams: *Domestiques pull over after doing their turn*
Ineos: *Don’t you even think about pulling over!*#giro
— Lois Horwitz (@LoisHorwitz) May 19, 2021
No, Midge, watch ME use that in my race write-up.
envoie la sauce. LOVE IT. Watch me use that in my next race write up. https://t.co/7lzqx93mtE
— midge (@pariswheels) May 19, 2021
Egan Bernal took full advantage of the gravel. He took full advantage of his mountain bike experience. He took full advantage of his Strade Bianche racing in March. And he marked this stage as one where he could take his rivals by surprise and leave them in his dust.
And that’s just what happened.
Ciao good bye ! Bernal s'envole. #Giro pic.twitter.com/CjyYBHRfaI
— Dans la Musette (@DansLaMusette) May 19, 2021
But who won the stage again?
I forgot about the break. #Giro #CouchPeloton pic.twitter.com/BfQ4ORgfqV
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) May 19, 2021
Mauro Schmid and Alessandro Covi were battling it out in front. It would take some power to sprint to the victory after such an intense stage. There was no chance of getting caught by anyone so it was down to those two. And the victory was going to change someone’s life.
And that’s just what happened.
📹 What a stage! 🔥The Tuscany hills served up a gravel delight today @giroditalia with a shake up in the GC & a maiden professional win for Mauro Schmid of @QhubekaAssos 🙌
________
🇮🇹 #Giro104 #Giro2021 #Giro pic.twitter.com/CG6cZJC7ZN— Velon CC (@VelonCC) May 19, 2021
That's actually a mighty stage victory for Schmid.
Won't be talked about often, but that was a huge performance. Covi too.
— Just Pro Cycling (@justprocycling) May 19, 2021
🇮🇹 #Giro
What just happened?!@mauro_schmid – Grand Tour stage winner. 🖐️#BicyclesChangeLives pic.twitter.com/dRVhr9KyPq
— Team Qhubeka ASSOS (@QhubekaAssos) May 19, 2021
🎙️ @mauro_schmid: "Actually I cannot believe it. In the last two stages I suffered a lot, but today I really wanted to go on the attack because I really like riding on gravel. In the breakaway, I felt I had good legs and I went for it.”
Powered by @eolo_it #Giro pic.twitter.com/DzaUrLHk1T
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 19, 2021
Mauro Schmid fought so hard to be in today’s break and was rewarded with a beautiful victory at @giroditalia stage 11.
Mauro Schmid pushed against the edge and can celebrate a magnificent stage win. His first Grand Tour, and his first professional win.@QhubekaAssos pic.twitter.com/MD5XR5lJ6i
— ASSOS Of Switzerland (@assos_com) May 19, 2021
If you’re interested in donating to Qhubeka to celebrate Schmid’s win, here is the link. Because bicycles change lives.
🇮🇹 #Giro@mauro_schmid wins stage 11 of the @giroditalia!
Opportunity. Hope. Fight. Success.
All underpinned by our PURPOSE.
We are so incredibly proud of you! 🖐️
Ubuntu – I am because we are#BicyclesChangeLives pic.twitter.com/rMjolUd0n8
— Team Qhubeka ASSOS (@QhubekaAssos) May 19, 2021
Eight months ago, Team NTT were done, set to close their doors. Assos came on board, the team was saved at the last minute and now they've won a Giro d'Italia stage. A fairytale win for @QhubekaAssos and Mauro Schmid
— Andy McGrath (@Andymcgra) May 19, 2021
Words from the vanquisher
🎙️ @Eganbernal: "Today we rode well and I increased my lead in the General Classification but the Giro is still long, all the big climbs are still to be ridden. I'm confident but I have to keep my feet firmly on the ground."
Powered by @eolo_it #Giro pic.twitter.com/KwvHxNqgXn
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 19, 2021
With Bernal picking up so much time over his rivals – and none of them near him look as strong – t over? Will it now be a defensive race, with INEOS reverting to the Skytrain, shutting down everything?
Let’s hope that’s just not what’s going to happen.
The final word
Adam speaks for us all. #Giro https://t.co/FFn9vwE2Gs
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) May 19, 2021
Results
Stage 11 Top 5
1 Mauro Schmid (Team Qhubeka Assos) 4:01:55
2 Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates) +0:01
3 Harm Vanhoucke (Lotto Soudal) +0:26
4 Dries De Bondt (Alpecin-Fenix) +0:41
5 Simon Guglielmi (Groupama-FDJ) same time
GC Top 10
1 Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) 42:35:21
2 Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana) +0:45 (up from 3rd)
3 Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) +1:12 (up from 7th)
4 Hugh Carthy (EF Education-Nippo) +1:17 (up from 6th)
5 Simon Yates (Team Bike Exchange) +1:22 (up from 9th)
6 Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) +1:50 (up from 15th)
7 Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-QuickStep) +2:22 (down from 2nd)
8 Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) +2:24 (down from 4th)
9 Tobias Foss (Jumbo-Visma) +2:49 (up from 18th)
10 Daniel Martinez (INEOS Grenadiers) +3:15 (up from 11th)
All the jerseys
Leader’s jersey Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers)
Points jersey Peter Sagan (BORA-hansgrohe)
King of the Mountains Geoffrey Bouchard (Ag2r Citroen)
Best Young Rider Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers)
For full race reviews, go to cyclingnews.
Official race website: Giro d’Italia