16 May 2021
Egan powers into pink jersey
Related riders
Egan Bernal
Giro d'Italia - Stage 9 » Castel di Sangro › Campo Felice (Rocca di Cambio), 158km
Egan Bernal launched an emphatic late attack to win stage nine and move into the overall lead of the Giro d’Italia.
The Colombian burst clear of the GC favourites on the gravel roads of Campo Felice, winning solo by seven seconds, and elevating himself into the maglia rosa.
Bernal’s first stage win at a Grand Tour couldn’t have come in more dramatic fashion, with the break caught inside the final kilometre on the steep, traction-limited slopes.
Egan was set up perfectly by his team-mates on the day, with the team taking it up on the Ovindoli climb with Salvatore Puccio and Jonathan Narvaez, before driving onto the final ascent.
Gianni Moscon helped string out the lead group, with overnight leader Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) quickly distanced. Bernal now holds a 15-second advantage, with one stage to go before the opening rest day.
Daniel Martinez also finished strongly, taking ninth on the stage. He moved up one spot to 11th on GC, 1:12 behind his team-mate.
Bernal’s first stage win at a Grand Tour couldn’t have come in more dramatic fashion, with the break caught inside the final kilometre on the steep, traction-limited slopes.
Egan was set up perfectly by his team-mates on the day, with the team taking it up on the Ovindoli climb with Salvatore Puccio and Jonathan Narvaez, before driving onto the final ascent.
Gianni Moscon helped string out the lead group, with overnight leader Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) quickly distanced. Bernal now holds a 15-second advantage, with one stage to go before the opening rest day.
Daniel Martinez also finished strongly, taking ninth on the stage. He moved up one spot to 11th on GC, 1:12 behind his team-mate.
Egan Bernal
"I cannot believe what just happened, I just won my first stage in a Grand Tour. I made a lot of sacrifices to get where I am now."
Reaction
- Egan Bernal
"I cannnot believe what is happening. I just won my first stage in a Grand Tour. I made a lot of sacrifices to be in this position after the Tour last year. I’m really happy.
"I was really thinking to do well today but I was not sure to go for the stage. It was more because of my team-mates – they had a lot of confidence in me. I was not sure but they told me: ‘you can do it, we will take the responsibility for you and what happens, happens.’ This victory is more for them because they really believed in me."
- Egan Bernal
"I cannnot believe what is happening. I just won my first stage in a Grand Tour. I made a lot of sacrifices to be in this position after the Tour last year. I’m really happy.
"I was really thinking to do well today but I was not sure to go for the stage. It was more because of my team-mates – they had a lot of confidence in me. I was not sure but they told me: ‘you can do it, we will take the responsibility for you and what happens, happens.’ This victory is more for them because they really believed in me."
Stage nine result:
1. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) 4:08:23
2. Giulio Ciccone (Trek Segafredo) +7"
3. Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana-Premier Tech) s.t.
4. Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) +10"
5. Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation) s.t.
9. Daniel Martinez (INEOS Grenadiers) +12"
Overall standings:
1. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) 35:19:22
2. Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) +15"
3. Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana-Premier Tech) +21"
4. Giulio Ciccone (Trek Segafredo) +36"
5. Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) +43"
11. Daniel Martinez (INEOS Grenadiers) +1:12"
1. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) 4:08:23
2. Giulio Ciccone (Trek Segafredo) +7"
3. Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana-Premier Tech) s.t.
4. Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) +10"
5. Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation) s.t.
9. Daniel Martinez (INEOS Grenadiers) +12"
Overall standings:
1. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) 35:19:22
2. Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) +15"
3. Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana-Premier Tech) +21"
4. Giulio Ciccone (Trek Segafredo) +36"
5. Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) +43"
11. Daniel Martinez (INEOS Grenadiers) +1:12"
