Diego Ulissi Wins Giro d'Italia Stage 11; Bob Jungels Still Leads Overall
The Italian won another stage but it was the rider from Luxembourg that left with overall lead.
OMNISPORT
Bob Jungels held on to his Giro d'Italia lead for a second successive day despite being pipped on the line by stage 11 winner Diego Ulissi.
Having taken over the Maglia Rosa on Tuesday, Jungels was well placed in the closing sprint but was unable to take the win as Ulissi (Lampre – Merida) and Andrey Amador (Movistar) finished ahead of him.
The Etixx-Quick Step rider retains top spot, though, 24 seconds ahead of Amador who benefitted from bonus seconds, while his advantage over two of the pre-race favourites Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was extended as they finished 13 secs adrift on stage 11.
Valverde is now one minute and seven secs adrift of Jungels in the general classification, with Nibali a further two secs behind.
The opening 200 kilometres of the day were largely uneventful as Vegard Stake Laengen (IAM Cycling), Liam Bertazzo (Wilier Triestina–Southeast) and Anton Vorobyev (Katusha) pulled over 10 minutes clear.
While the breakaway group enjoyed the flat start to the day, things were not so good for Tom Dumoulin (Giant - Alpecin) as he was forced to abandon during the feed zone due to saddle sore.
Eventually the peloton caught the leaders with Lampre – Merida and Etixx working well, something Ulissi and Jungels eventually profited from.
The only category climb of the day stretched things out and on the technical descent the contenders began to jostle for position.
Jungels was quick to make his move and he looked like taking the stage win with one kilometre to go, but Ulissi was able to find enough pace to snatch the win on the line and claim his second stage win of the race.
