Let the records show that Stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia was taken in fine style by Alberto Bettiol of EF Education-Nippo. The Italian on the US team made it into the 23-man break on the longest stage of the race, attacked with panache over the four climbs in the finale, and soloed over the line in pure, unadulterated joy to take his first victory on home soil. Rather fittingly, considering the race organisers might have laughingly labelled this is a sprint stage, Simone Consonni (Cofidis) revved it up to take second place from Team DSM’s indefatigable Nicolas Roche. The peloton were led over the line, and indeed for most of the 180km after the break went away, by Filippo Ganna (INEOS) some 23 minutes later. There is no change in podium positions with Egan Bernal (INEOS) still in pink and still facing the mountains in the next two stages.
The boldness of Bettiol
The four climbs in the final kilometres set the tone for the rouleurs in the break to get their mojo on – they did not disappoint. Deceuninck Quick Step’s Remi Cavagna timed his bid for glory with precision, power and 26km to go. He got his gap and went straight to time trial mode. It looked all over.
Remi Cavagna has Remi Cavagna'd 💥 #Giro
— Issie 💙 (@IssieAtch) May 27, 2021
Attack of @remicav with 26 kilometers left of the longest #Giro stage.
— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) May 27, 2021
Two climbs remaining at the #Giro for @remicav, who holds an advantage of 23 seconds and is in full time trial mode.
— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) May 27, 2021
Nicolas Roche and Alberto Bettiol teamed up to chase the leader down
Contact made 💪🏻
Superb descent from @nicholasroche as he catches Bettiol at 10km to go, with the duo 14" behind Cavagna! #Giro pic.twitter.com/NMofTaGg41
— Team DSM (@TeamDSM) May 27, 2021
Only a handful of seconds left for @remicav, who is leaving everything out there.#Giro #WayToRide
Photo: @GettySport pic.twitter.com/WOXIJ4rtki— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) May 27, 2021
Bettiol attacked Roche and stalked Cavagna down
Man Alive!
I thought Remi Cavagna was going to TT away & never be seen again.If Betiol can win this then @Vaughters will be doing some serious Jazz Hands before the end of the day.
Come on Alberto..!!!💪💪💪
— In The Woodshed (@inthewoodshed) May 27, 2021
Or not 😊 https://t.co/MT5AzPK54Y
— Cycling_mad (@Cycling_mad1) May 27, 2021
Ah damn. Poor Rémi is left pedalling squares. #couchpeloton
— Perthgirl/StressKnitter (@perth_girl) May 27, 2021
Catching and cruising past him just before the summit of the final climb.
Bettiol is back on Cavagna and attacking! Great battle, I must say. #Giro pic.twitter.com/gDbutouDh9
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) May 27, 2021
With the sweet scent of victory driving him on Bettiol came to the finish line with seconds to spare to show that flashy ‘Euphoria’ EF kit to the cameras and celebrate in full euphoric style.
📽️ The breakaway, the attack, the solo last km of @AlbertoBettiol in Stradella.
📽️ La fuga, l'attacco, l'ultimo chilometro solitario di @AlbertoBettiol a Stradella.
Powered by @supersapiensinc #Giro pic.twitter.com/GgsTVPu3ox
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 27, 2021
We love to see a key domestique rider given his chance. Who can forget the Bettiol and Hugh Carthy double act on stage 17.
🎙️ @AlbertoBettiol: "I really wanted a victory like this! I had already come close on a couple of occasions. This morning my captain Hugh Carthy gave me the green light to go on the attack, I want to thank him and the whole team."
Powered by @eolo_it #Giro pic.twitter.com/rvvYvOJuh6
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 27, 2021
Bettiol quote of the day…
Interviewer: Take us through the last 10km. You had to catch Remi Cavagna who is one of the best time triallists in the world.
Alberto: Yes but I’m also one of the best time triallists in the world!!!!
To breakaway or not to breakaway
The longest stage of the Giro, two crucial mountain stages and a time trial on the horizon all added up to two types of team strategies. First, the GC teams were desperate to let the break go and stay away all day so they could grind out the endless kilometres in a pace to suit them. Second, those teams without GC ambitions to shepherd, were desperate to get into the break away for one last shot at experiencing the pop of prosecco and the pink confetti cannon.
Time for the longest stage of the race📏
A flat start leads to a very punchy finale with numerous hills crammed into the closing 30km. It should be an exciting finish!
Will it be the breakaway or the peloton fighting for the stage win though? 🤔#Giro pic.twitter.com/joNC0TW1Sa
— Team DSM (@TeamDSM) May 27, 2021
From the moment the flag dropped it was BRUTAL! The pace kept high as the attacks kept coming.
🇮🇹 #Giro
Stage 18 is underway. There have been many attacks but still no breakaway group.
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) May 27, 2021
The paucity of sprinter teams upped the chaotic factor. I can only imagine some riders sending up a prayer to the cycling Gods to just make it STOP. Eventually the right combination of 23 riders made the cut.
#Giro 🇮🇹
It took a long while, but a breakaway has finally been formed.
23 riders have gone clear while all our guys remain in the bunch 👍
— Team BikeExchange (@GreenEDGEteam) May 27, 2021
The peloton breathed a sigh of relief, Ganna and teammate Salvatore Puccio came to front to set a nice’n’easy pace as the gap ballooned out to ‘the break is definitely going to win this stage’ territory. They stayed there all day!
Ganna has been sharing 15min turns with @SalvatorePuccio. Ganna does 15min at 300-320w, then Puccio takes over and does 15min at 280w ⚡️
________
🇮🇹 #Giro #Giro104 #Giro2021— Velon CC (@VelonCC) May 27, 2021
The peloton finally arrived, 23 minutes after the breakaway. 😴 It was a rest day for Egan Bernal and co. #Giro pic.twitter.com/3g7PG1Svwu
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) May 27, 2021
When the race is long
Today’s stage traversed the Po valley. Long, flat roads that wound their way through some bucolic scenery. A transition stage to weaken the legs and heart of the riders before the tough days to come. For the cycling fans on Twitter this is licence to make hay…
We can always rely on NYVelocity for tractors
TRACTOR MADNESS!! pic.twitter.com/fVXLnglozd
— nyvelocity (@nyvelocity) May 27, 2021
Bidon bar was spotted
Absolutely losing my mind at this bike bar #Giro pic.twitter.com/8mYeL1sSH9
— Robyn (@robynjournalist) May 27, 2021
All of the slo-mo shots and close ups
We are at the zoom in on riders’ tattoos part of the flat stage. #Giro #CouchPeloton
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) May 27, 2021
Thoughts turned to photographers
What are the odds that the motorbike on the slip road is carrying @jeredgruber who's busy catching an arty shot of the peloton through the colonnade of trees? #Giro2021 pic.twitter.com/aAmU6VYHV6
— Felix Lowe (@saddleblaze) May 27, 2021
We had artsy shots on the TV too
https://t.co/yGbAoH6Z4e pic.twitter.com/zelHX1lers
— RiksRedGuard (@RiksRedGuard) May 27, 2021
The Final Words
Bunch sprint win by Ganna…he can do it all 😎#Giro2021
— Brian Smith (@BriSmithy) May 27, 2021
Results
Stage 17 Top 5
1 Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-Nippo) 5:14:43
2 Simone Consonni (Cofidis) +0:17
3 Nicolas Roache (Team DSM) same time
4 Nikias Arndt (Team DSM) s/t
5 Diego Ulissi (UAE-Team Emirates) s/t
GC Top 10
1 Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) 77:10:18
2 Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) +2:21
3 Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange) +3:23
4 Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana-Premier Tech) +6:03
5 Hugh Carthy (EF Education-Nippo) +6:09
6 Romain Bardet (Team DSM) +6:31
7 Daniel Martinez (Ineos Grenadiers) +7:17
8 João Almeida (Deceuninck-QuickStep) +8:45
9 Tobias Foss (Jumbo-Visma) +9:18
10 Dan Martin (Israel Start Up Nation) +13:37
All the jerseys
🇮🇹 #Giro104
GC Top 4 after Stage 17 🔢1⃣ Egan Bernal 🇨🇴
2️⃣ Damiano Caruso 🇮🇹 +2:21
3️⃣ Simon Yates 🇬🇧 +3:23
4️⃣ Alexandr Vlasov 🇷🇺 +6:03 pic.twitter.com/VQRovlKHsK— pro cycling trumps (@procycletrumps) May 26, 2021
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 the full race review, go to cyclingnews
Go here for the official Giro website