Giovanni Visconti wins Giro d'Italia's Col du Galibier stage

Giovanni Visconti wins, Giro d'Italia 2013, stage 15

Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) took a solo win in Sunday's show-shortened stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia on the Col du Galibier.

Carlos Betancur (Ag2r) placed second, with Przemyslaw Niemiec (Lampre-Merida) in third.

Race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) came in with a compact group of overall favouries to maintain his advantage at the top of the general classification. He leads Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) by one minute and 26 seconds, and Rigoberto Uran (Sky) by 2-46.

Snowfall shortens stage

Race organiser RCS Sport took the decision to shorten the stage by just over four kilometres due to the depth of snow and road conditions at the top of the Galibier. The stage finished in Les Granges du Galibier - Monument Pantani.

After the previous day's attrocious racing conditions, the riders also decided that they would neutralise racing over the initial categorised climb to Col du Mont Cenis. Stefano Pirazzi (Bardiani Valvole) and Robinson Chalapud (Colombia) kicked out near the summit to collect the KoM points on offer, and the racing recommenced.

Giovanni Visconti (Movistar), Pieter Weening (Orica-GreenEdge) and Matteo Rabottini (Vini Fantini) then bridged over to Pirazzi. Visconti attacked his escape companions on the descent and rode clear  to crest the Col du Telegraphe solo.

A small group of five riders launched an attack on the Telegraphe, comprising Robert Gesink (Blanco), Robert Kiserlovski (RadioShack-Leopard), Sergio Henao (Sky), Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Francis De Greef (Lotto-Belisol). Gesink, Kiserlovski and Henao posed a danger to the overall classification, and several teams took up the pace-setting of the peloton to eventually chase them down.

Meanwhile, Visconti pressed on up the Galibier as snow started to fall heavily. Rabottini rode away from Weening and Pirazzi to try and chase down the Movistar rider up front but couldn't match his pace and all three were eventually caught by the contenders group.

Nibali accelerated in the last two kilometres, splintering the lead group but was swiftly caught by a selection containing Uran, Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida) and Evans.

Betancur, Niemiec, Fabio Duarte (Colombia) and Rafal Majka (Saxo-Tinkoff) attacked with the last kilometre with Betancur snatching the lead in the young riders competition from Majka thanks to his bonus time for coming second. Betancur also moved up to seventh overall.

Scarponi led home the contenders group, who were content to come in together safe in the knowledge that another stage had been survived in a race that continues to be heavily affected by the adverse weather.

All four British riders left in the race - Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Steve Cummings, Adam Blythe (Both BMC) and Alex Dowsett (Movistar) finished in a large group that came in 27 minutes and 54 seconds behind stage winner Visconti.

Tomorrow (Monday) is the second rest day of the 2013 Giro d'Italia before the racing restarts on Tuesday, with stage 16 from Valloire to Ivrea over 238km and including two categorised climbs. Full stage 16 preview>>

Results

Giro d'Italia 2013, stage 15: Cesana Torinese to Col du Galibier


1. Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar in 4-40-48

2. Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r La Mondiale at 42 secs

3. Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida

4. Rafal Majka (Pol) Saxo-Tinkoff at same time

5. Fabio Duarte (Col) Colombia at 47 secs

6. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida at 54 secs

7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana

8. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing

9. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini

10. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Sky at same time

British

130. Adam Blythe (GBr) BMC Racing at 27-54

135. Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar at 27-54

148. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 27-54

163. Steve Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing at 27-54

Overall classification after stage 15

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana in 62-02-34

2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing at 1-26

3. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Sky at 2-46

4. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini at 2-47

5. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida at 3-53

6. Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida at 4-35

7. Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r La Mondiale at 5-15

8. Rafal Majka (Pol) Saxo-Tinkoff at 5-20

9. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale at 5-57

10. Benat Intxausti (Spa) Movistar at 6-21

British

137. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 2-40-42

157. Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar at 2-55-31

158. Steve Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing at 2-57-00

175. Adam Blythe (GBr) BMC Racing at 3-28-52

Astana chase

Robert Gesink leads a short-lived escape

Cadel Evans and Vincenzo Nibali lead the contenders pack on Galibier

Giovanni Visconti takes a solo win


Giro d'Italia 2013: Previews and race info



Giro d'Italia 2013: Coverage index

Giro d'Italia 2013: British TV schedule

Giro 2013: 10 things you need to know

Giro d'Italia 2013: The Big Preview


Giro d'Italia 2013: Stage reports



Stage 13: Cavendish takes his fourth stage win of 2013 Giro

Stage 12: Cavendish takes 100th win as Wiggins' Giro bid faltrs

Stage 11: Navardauskas wins as favourites enjoy day off

Stage 10: Uran wins as Wiggins and Hesjedal lose time

Stage nine: Belkov takes solo win as Wiggins put under pressure

Stage eight: Dowsett wins as Nibali takes race lead

Stage seven: Wiggins crashes as Hansen wins

Stage six: Cavendish wins stage six of Giro

Stage five: Degenkolb avoids crash to take win

Stage four: Battaglin sprints to first Giro stage win

Stage three: Paolini takes charge

Stage two: Sky wins team time trial

Stage one: Cavendish wins opener


Giro d'Italia 2013: Photo galleries



Photos by Graham Watson

Stage 15 gallery

Stage 14 gallery

Stage 13 gallery

Stage 12 gallery

Stage 11 gallery

Stage 10 gallery

Stage nine gallery

Stage eight gallery

Stage seven gallery

Stage six gallery

Stage five gallery

Stage four gallery

Stage three gallery

Stage two gallery

Stage one gallery

Team presentation gallery

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.