After the magnificent efforts of yesterday, the peloton must have been delighted to wake up to face the Giro’s shortest stage today. In the end the sprint teams worked hard to keep the breaks under control, especially on the climbs and descents at the end. As they tore through the Swiss border control with 7km to go and into the mazy streets of Lugano, Lampre-Merida positioned Sacha Modolo perfectly to take his second win and his team’s fourth. The GC remains unchanged.
Great teamwork and superb turn of speed saw Nacer Bouhanni take the second Vuelta stage after a tricky finish in San Fernando. Movistar retain the leader’s red jersey, but it passes from the shoulders of Jonathan Castroviejo to those of Alejandro Valverde.
This year’s Giro dispenses with an opening prologue and goes straight to the road, giving the sprinters a clear run at the first maglia rosa. The last time Naples saw a Giro start was in 1963 and much has changed in 50 years, so the circuits around the city and seafront are the perfect showcase for the rejuvenated city. Continue reading