21 Oct 2020

Tao stands firm as Dennis makes Giro break

Related riders

Giro d'Italia - Stage 17 » Bassano del Grappa › Madonna di Campiglio, 203km

Tao Geoghegan Hart comfortably retained fourth place overall at the Giro d’Italia after Rohan Dennis spent another day in the breakaway.

Geoghegan Hart led home a select group of general classification contenders and support riders as the overall leaderboard went unchanged on stage 17.

Tao remains one second off the podium and 2:59 off continued race leader Joao Almeida (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) following another day in the mountains.

Rohan Dennis represented the team in the breakaway with a gutsy ride. The Australian was a present in the early 19-man move, which fluctuated in size throughout the day. Eventually slipping back on the Madonna di Campiglio climb, he was reeled in by the peloton just ahead of the finish. Compatriot Ben O’Connor (Team NTT) pushed clear to clinch a solo victory.

Reaction

Tao Geoghegan Hart

“It was not quite the big selective day that we prepared for and anticipated, but there’s definitely a few of those coming.

“It wasn’t really that hard and there wasn’t any team with the legs to make a selection so it was just a case of saving the legs for tomorrow.

“I think tomorrow’s the big day for sure, and Saturday as well, but I think tomorrow is the first time we go into high altitude so I’d imagine there could be some different results. Let’s see what happens it’s going to be a solid day.”

Overall standings:

1. Joao Almeida (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) 71:41:18
2. Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb) +17"
3. Jai Hindley (Team Sunweb) +2:58"
4. Tao Geoghegan Hart (INEOS Grenadiers) +2:59"
5. Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-McLaren) +3:12"