Giro 2020: Tratnik outguns OConnor, Almeida cements lead

Giro 2020: Tratnik outguns O’Connor, Almeida cements lead

Jan Tratnik and Ben O'Connor are the last men standing of a huge breakaway after a long race with almost 4,000 vertical metres. The Slovene leaves the Australian behind after the flamme rouge to take the spoils. João Almeida wins 2 seconds with a late attack to extend the GC lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 16th stage Giro d’Italia 2020

1. Jan Tratnik (slo)
2. Ben O’Connor (nzl) + 0.07
3. Enrico Battaglin (ita) + 1.14
4. Kamil Malecki (pol) s.t.
5. Ben Swift (gbr) s.t.
6. Andrea Vendrame (ita) + 1.21
7. Geoffrey Bouchard (fra) s.t.
8. Matteo Fabbro (ita) + 1.25
9. Manuele Borao (ita) + 1.33
10. Alessandro Tonelli (ita) + 1.37

28. João Almeida (por) + 12.54
– other GC riders + 12.56

GC after stage 16
1. João Almeida (por)
2. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.17
3. Jai Hindley (aus) + 2.58
4. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) + 2.59
5. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 3.12
6. Rafal Majka (pol) + 3.20
7. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 3.31
8. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 3.52
9. Patrick Konrad (aut) + 4.11
10. Fausto Masnada (ita) + 4.24

Race report
The peloton tackles the Madonnina del Domm together before Ruben Guerreiro gives it a go. The former KOM leader is brought back, but he goes again. Current KOM leader Giovanni Visconti tracks him down before a group of 26 riders also bridges across.

Guerreiro is the first rider over the Madonnina del Domm ahead of Visconti. On the Monte Spig it is the other way around, while Guerreiro suffers a mechanical on the Monteaperta climb, making it easy for Visconti to pocket most KOM points.

Guerreiro heads out alone on the first ascent of the Monte di Ragogna and he is the first rider over the summit before Boaro and Tratnik go on the counter attack.

Tratnik leaves his companion behind in the second ascent of the Monte di Ragogna, while the chasing group implodes behind the breakaway. Bouchard, O’Connor, Swift, Tonelli, Malecki and Battaglin are the strongest chasers and they rejoin Boaro.

Meanwhile, the peloton is taking it easy. The GC group is more than 15 minutes behind.

O’Connor goes after Tratnik in the last ascent of the Ragogna. He rejoins the Slovene just before the summit. Malecki, Swift and Battaglin reach the summit 42 seconds later.

Tratnik attacks on a steep uphill kick in the last kilometre to solo to victory.

Almeida strikes in the finale to put some time into his GC rivals. He crosses the line 2 seconds ahead of the other GC contenders, including Kelderman.

Another interesting read: route 16th stage 2020 Giro d’Italia.