Giro d’Italia: Stage win for Tao

Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos) put in one of the finest performances of his young career to claim victory on stage 15 at the Giro d’Italia, his first Grand Tour stage victory

Giro d’Italia: Stage win for Tao

Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos) put in one of the finest performances of his young career to claim victory on stage 15 at the Giro d’Italia, his first Grand Tour stage victory. The Brit rode his way to the front of the race on the Piancavallo summit finish, before out-sprinting Wilco Kelderman and claiming his biggest victory to date – and a fifth stage win for the INEOS Grenadiers.

Pic: Getty Images

That success also moved Geoghegan Hart up seven places to fourth overall, 2:57 off the maglia rosa but just two seconds off an overall podium place. In the closing kilometres Tao was joined by Team Sunweb duo Kelderman and Jai Hindley, with the trio riding clear of all their rivals, including leader Joao Almeida (Deceuninck-Quick-Step).

At the line Tao delivered a final turn of speed to comfortably take the win, pointing to the sky in tribute of the team’s late Sport Director Nico Portal.

Rohan Dennis put in another towering performance on the day, making the early 11-man breakaway before riding clear of everyone over the penultimate climb. With the pressure being applied behind, splintering the bunch in the process, the Aussie was reeled in with just 9.6km remaining after a determined ride.

However there was also disappointment on the day, with Jhonatan Narvaez crashing out of the race. The stage 12 winner slid out on a slick descent and was taken to hospital for checks. Initial results appear encouraging, with the Ecuadorian suffering cuts and bruises. He will continue to be monitored by the team’s medical staff.
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Reaction – Tao Geoghegan Hart: “It’s been such an up and down race – we have an incredible Filippo Ganna, an equally incredible Rohan Dennis yesterday and Jhonny, who we’re sad to lose to injury today, also won a stage in the break . Everyone in our team has been in at least the top four on a stage. I’m really honoured to be a part of this team, to be a Grenadier and to be in this Giro.”

“Obviously I lost some time in the prologue, the plan here for the whole team was to support Geraint for the victory and I believe that Geraint would have been on the podium of this Giro or better to be honest. I’m behind on GC, but I really wanted to win a stage. I’ve only won a few races in my career so this is something truly incredible for me.”

“Crossing the line first was something truly incredible and this one was for Nico Portal – we lost him this spring and it’s been really difficult for the team I think. Not only that but all season we’ve had some great highs, but some big lows in the Tour, for me personally and also in this race. We just have to show the Grenadier spirit we’re trying to foster in this team and keep bouncing back like we know we can.”

Stage
1. Tao Geoghegan Hart INEOS Grenadiers 04:58:52
2. Wilco Kelderman Team Sunweb @ 2
3. Jai Hindley Team Sunweb @ 4
4. Joao Almeida Youth jerseyLeader jersey Deceuninck-Quick Step + 37
5. Rafal Majka Bora-Hansgrohe @ 1:22
6. Patrick Konrad Bora-Hansgrohe @ 1:29
7. James Knox Deceuninck-Quick Step @ 1:36
8. Pello Bilbao Bahrain-McLaren @ 1:36
9. Jakob Fuglsang Astana Pro Team @ 1:36
10. Vincenzo Nibali Trek-Segafredo @ 1:36

19. Ben Swift INEOS Grenadiers @ 5:07
85. Matthew Holmes Lotto Soudal + 32:02
125. Alex Dowsett Israel Start-Up Nation + 40:45
131. Jonathan Dibben Lotto Soudal + 40:45

Overall
1. Joao Almeida Deceuninck-Quick Step 59:27:38
2. Wilco Kelderman Team Sunweb + 15
3. Jai Hindley Team Sunweb @ 2:56
4. Tao Geoghegan Hart INEOS Grenadiers @ 2:57
5. Pello Bilbao Bahrain-McLaren @ 3:10
6. Rafal Majka Bora-Hansgrohe @ 3:18
7. Vincenzo Nibali Trek-Segafredo @ 3:29
8. Domenico Pozzovivo NTT Pro Cycling Team @ 3:50
9. Patrick Konrad Bora-Hansgrohe @ 4:09
10. Fausto Masnada Deceuninck-Quick Step @ 4:12

14. James Knox Deceuninck-Quick Step @ 8:55

Young Rider Classification
1. Joao Almeida Deceuninck-Quick Step 59:27:38
2. Jai Hindley Team Sunweb 02:56
3. Tao Geoghegan Hart INEOS Grenadiers 02:57
4. Brandon McNulty UAE Team Emirates 04:29
5. James Knox Deceuninck-Quick Step

Full Result Here