Giro d’Italia 2023: 'I would be really peed off' – Sean Kelly baffled by Davide Formolo tactics on Stage 12

18.05.2023 - 17:21 eurosport.com

Sean Kelly admits he would be “really peed off” if he was in GC hopeful Joao Almeida’s shoes at the Giro d’Italia after seeing his team-mate Davide Formolo lead a futile uphill chase on Stage 12 – less than 24 hours before the peloton roll out for the biggest mountain test yet.

Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) started the day third in the general classification, just 22 seconds down on Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) in the overall competition.

With a brutal day to follow on Friday, featuring three Cat. 1 climbs, it was expected the GC teams would avoid burning any unnecessary matches on the run from Bra to Rivoli.

Ad Instead, Formolo – and Primoz Roglic’s team-mate Sepp Kuss – got into the day’s chaotic 30-man breakaway. The 30-year-old was targeting a second stage win at the Giro but missed the key move as four riders – Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo), Alessandro Tonelli (Green Project-Bardiani), Sebastian Berwick (Israel-PremierTech) and eventual winner Nico Denz (Bora-Hansgrohe) – broke away.

Boxing mountaineering on Giro Geraint Thomas Sean Kelly Sepp Kuss Uae Israel

:Primoz Roglic became the first Slovenian winner of the Giro d'Italia when he retained the overall lead after Sunday's 21st and final stage in Rome, a day after he ousted Geraint Thomas from the maglia rosa in a dramatic time trial.

Primoz Roglic closes in on Giro d'Italia title, Ottawa's Gee 31st on penultimate stage

Primoz Roglic all but secured the Giro d'Italia title on Saturday by overtaking leader Geraint Thomas on the penultimate stage despite having a mechanical problem on the mountain time trial.

Giro d'Italia 'impossible to predict' ahead of Geraint Thomas, Primoz Roglic, Joao Almeida time trial decider

The Giro d’Italia is on a knife-edge heading into Saturday’s decisive individual time trial, with Eurosport expert Jens Voigt claiming Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) could all still win the race. With Sunday’s final stage a pan-flat run around Rome for the sprinters, the general classification battle will almost certainly be decided against the clock on Stage 20.

Geraint Thomas or Primoz Roglic - Who will win and where will Giro d'Italia 2023 be decided?

Primoz Roglic looks the biggest threat to Geraint Thomas’ dream of winning the Giro d’Italia after an improved performance on Stage 18, but The Breakaway team remain unconvinced he can topple the Welshman. Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) extended his lead in the general classification to 29 seconds on Thursday after following the resurgent Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) to the line, with Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) slipping from second to third after losing ground on his two big rivals. Ad The day began with Jens Voigt writing off Roglic’s hopes, suggesting the best he could hope for was third after he failed to stick with Almeida and Thomas on Stage 16.

Canadian rider Derek Gee records 5th top-5 finish at Giro d'Italia

Canadian Derek Gee finished fourth in Stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday, his fourth top-five finish in his first Grand Tour event.

Geraint Thomas feels consistency is key to fending off Primoz Roglic and Joao Almeida for Giro d'Italia win

Geraint Thomas was delighted with how he weathered an attack from Primoz Roglic on Stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia, as he protected his race lead. Roglic shipped time on Tuesday to suggest he was not at his best, but two days on, the Slovenian put his Jumbo-Visma team to work before launching an attack on the penultimate climb of the day. Ad Joao Almeida started the day in second place, but the UAE Team Emirates leader could not hold the wheel and lost time on the day.