It’s all-square in the general classification after stage 16 of the Giro d’Italia, won by Euskaltel-Euskadi’s Jon Izagirre after the break stayed away. Here’s how it happened…
It took nearly 70km for the break to form, with ten riders going clear. With several mountain stages to come, the peloton were happy to let the group ride to a 12-minute advantage.
The escapees escaped the final two kilometre climb with that lead intact, prompting Izagirre and Mathias Frank (BMC Racing) to attack in pursuit of a stage victory.
And it was Izagirre who triumphed ahead of Alessandro De Marchi (Androni Giocattoli) and Stef Clement (Rabobank).
The favourites were happy to roll up the final climb as one, no doubt more concerned with the climbing to come to in the next few days.
Mark Cavendish (Team Sky) continues to lead the points classification.
The victory was Izagirre’s first Giro d’Italia stage win.
Team Sky’s Sergio Henao leads the best young rider competition, lying eighth overall.
