28 May 2021
Egan stays cool to extend lead
Related riders
Egan Bernal
Giro d'Italia - Stage 19 » Abbiategrasso › Alpe di Mera (Valsesia), 166km
Egan Bernal and the INEOS Grenadiers rode a calm and measured final climb as the Colombian narrowly extended his race lead at the Giro.
With Simon Yates attacking on the Alpe di Mera summit, dragging nearest rival Damiano Caruso with him initially, the team set about riding at a tempo, with superb turns from Jonathan Castroviejo and Daniel Martinez.
Martinez saw both Caruso and Aleksandr Vlasov reeled in, as well as limiting the gap to Yates, before Bernal took it up with 2.5km to go.
The maglia rosa crossed the line in third, 28 seconds back on stage winner Yates, taking four bonus seconds and extending his overall advantage out to 2:29 in the process.
Martinez came home seventh, again instrumental and moving closer to sixth place on GC, just 10 seconds back on Romain Bardet with two stages to go.
The team had jumped into action to help bridge Martinez back to the front following a split on the descent off the Alpe Agogna, with Filippo Ganna helping shepherd his teammate back to the front.
With Simon Yates attacking on the Alpe di Mera summit, dragging nearest rival Damiano Caruso with him initially, the team set about riding at a tempo, with superb turns from Jonathan Castroviejo and Daniel Martinez.
Martinez saw both Caruso and Aleksandr Vlasov reeled in, as well as limiting the gap to Yates, before Bernal took it up with 2.5km to go.
The maglia rosa crossed the line in third, 28 seconds back on stage winner Yates, taking four bonus seconds and extending his overall advantage out to 2:29 in the process.
Martinez came home seventh, again instrumental and moving closer to sixth place on GC, just 10 seconds back on Romain Bardet with two stages to go.
The team had jumped into action to help bridge Martinez back to the front following a split on the descent off the Alpe Agogna, with Filippo Ganna helping shepherd his teammate back to the front.
Reaction
- Egan Bernal
"I actually felt really good. I think I did a really good climb - I'm really happy with my climb. Of course Yates was the best today, chapeau for him, but I'm really happy with my condition.
"(Tomorrow) I hope to have the same legs than today. Today I felt really good and tomorrow with the altitude I hope to have the same feelings, and just try to manage the gap I have with the two guys who are on the podium. Hopefully I will be in pink tomorrow. I think I have some time to play with and I just want to have legs also for the time trial. Everything should be okay if I feel good."
- Egan Bernal
"I actually felt really good. I think I did a really good climb - I'm really happy with my climb. Of course Yates was the best today, chapeau for him, but I'm really happy with my condition.
"(Tomorrow) I hope to have the same legs than today. Today I felt really good and tomorrow with the altitude I hope to have the same feelings, and just try to manage the gap I have with the two guys who are on the podium. Hopefully I will be in pink tomorrow. I think I have some time to play with and I just want to have legs also for the time trial. Everything should be okay if I feel good."
Stage 19 result:
1. Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange) 4:02:55
2. Joao Almeida (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) +11"
3. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) +28"
4. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) +32"
5. Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana-Premier Tech) s.t.
7. Daniel Martinez (INEOS Grenadiers) +49"
Overall standings:
1. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) 81:13:37
2. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) +2:29"
3. Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange) +2:49"
4. Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana-Premier Tech) +6:11"
5. Hugh Carthy (EF Education-Nippo) +7:10"
7. Daniel Martinez (INEOS Grenadiers) +7:42"
1. Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange) 4:02:55
2. Joao Almeida (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) +11"
3. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) +28"
4. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) +32"
5. Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana-Premier Tech) s.t.
7. Daniel Martinez (INEOS Grenadiers) +49"
Overall standings:
1. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) 81:13:37
2. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) +2:29"
3. Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange) +2:49"
4. Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana-Premier Tech) +6:11"
5. Hugh Carthy (EF Education-Nippo) +7:10"
7. Daniel Martinez (INEOS Grenadiers) +7:42"
