Overnight leader Steven Kruijswijk lost his race lead following a disastrous stage 19 of the Giro d’Italia on Friday.
ADVERTISEMENTOvernight leader Steven Kruijswijk lost his race lead following a disastrous stage 19 of the Giro d’Italia on Friday.
The Dutch rider held a three minute lead heading into the day’s ride.
He crashed heavily into a snow bank at the highest point of the race with 50 kilometres to go and then needed a new bike on the descent.
He struggled on the final climb and eventually lost almost five minutes on his rivals.
Those rivals were now out in front.
2013 champion Vincenzo Nibali and Colombia’s Esteban Chaves continued to push on with the assistance of Orica-GreenEdge rider Ruben Plaza and Astana’s Michele Scarponi.
Nibali’s first attack on Chaves fell short but his second proved decisive as he soloed to victory which has lifted him to second in the general standings
Kruijswijk meanwhile could only watch the pink jersey slip from his grasp and onto the back of rival Chaves who with two stages left is 44 seconds clear of Nibali.