Stage seventeen of the Giro d’Italia exploded into life on the fourth category climb of the Crosara.
The run from Caravaggio to Vicenza had threatened to be the first dull encounter of what has been an exhilarating Giro, with a four-man breakaway the only talking point of the first 190 kilometres.
The Crosara, however, turned the stage on its head, serving as the breakaway’s final destination and the launch pad for a second solo victory in three stages by three-time Italian champion, Giovanni Visconti.
Visconti returned to racing in January after serving a backdated, three-month suspension for his patronage of Dr Michele Ferrari, although ‘Gio’ insists he received no doping products from Lance Armstrong’s favourite medic.
The stag eighteen time trial is likely to end Visconti’s extended spell in the spotlight as the GC contenders renew their claims for overall victory.
Today’s highlights were captured in this gallery by official UCI WorldTour photographer, Stefano Sirotti.
