King of the Mountains at the Tour Mediterranèen, 25-year-old Jarlinson Pantano has continued to make a name for himself at this year’s Giro d’Italia. Third in Firenze last year, Pantano matched that achievement this time out in Oropa, following Enrico Battaglin (Bardiani-CSF) and Dario Cataldo (Team Sky) across the line, seven seconds back, to claim another third place.
The Colombian had been part of the leading group as they passed under the flamme rouge, and had repeatedly marked the attacks of his companions but was denied the stage by a well-timed acceleration from Battaglin. Nevertheless, it was another reminder of why the Colombians are so revered in the mountains.
Furthermore, there has rarely been a break go clear without a Colombian in it. Jeffry Romero, Rodolfo Torres and Robinson Chalapud (all Colombia) have all clocked more than 200 kilometres in the break, while Winner Anacona (Lampre-Merida) has 194, placing him tenth in the Premio Della Fuga classification.
