Hindley powers to likely Giro victory, Covi wins 20th stage
MARMOLADA, Italy (AP) — Jai Hindley stormed into the lead of the Giro d’Italia on the fearsome Marmolada on Saturday with a day left.
A mighty mountainous stage was gained by Alessandro Covi for his first grand tour victory following a protracted solo assault.
Race favourite Richard Carapaz, the 2019 champion and Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo, led the Giro since final Saturday, however by solely three seconds. The Ineos Grenadiers bicycle owner cracked inside the ultimate three kilometers of the penultimate stage on Saturday and Hindley rode away to probably glory.
Hindley, who rides for Bora–Hansgrohe, will take a bonus of 1 minute, 25 seconds into the race-ending particular person time trial in Verona.
The Australian went into the ultimate time trial in 2020 in the identical place however completed runner-up to Tao Geoghegan Hart. Nonetheless, they had been each on the identical total time and, barring an incident or catastrophe, Hindley ought to do one higher on Sunday.
Mikel Landa remained third, 1:51 behind Hindley.
The twentieth stage was given the utmost issue ranking of 5 stars and featured three grueling climbs: The Passo San Pellegrino, the Passo Pordoi — the race’s highest level — and the ultimate Passo Fedaia to the foot of the Marmolada glacier on the finish of the 168-kilometer (104-mile) route from Belluno.
All three had been high categorised ascents with practically 4,500 meters of climbing packed into the day.
Covi attacked on the decrease slopes of the Passo Pordoi and soloed throughout the Cima Coppi to take the prize for crossing the best level of the Giro first.
He had greater than two minutes on the remnants of the breakaway firstly of the Passo Fedaia and greater than six minutes on the peloton.
Covi held off an assault by Domen Novak, and the Italian had time to boost his arms over his head as he crossed the road with a 32-second benefit. Giulio Ciccone was third, 0:37 behind Covi.
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