Mikel Nieve was only drafted into Team Sky's Giro d'Italia squad after illness, injury and a potential biological passport case ruled out three of the men who were originally slated to serve as Mikel Landa's Praetorian Guard in the high mountains.
When Landa abruptly abandoned the race on Tuesday after falling ill following the rest day, Nieve's plans changed all over again. Having been one two riders to linger far behind the peloton with the stricken Landa, Nieve's first task was to make it to the ski station at Sestola inside the time limit.
That feat accomplished, Nieve was then charged with leading Sky's hunt for stage wins in the high mountains, the team's new strategy in the wake of Landa's surprise withdrawal. The Basque duly infiltrated the day's early break in the Julian Alps on Friday, then soloed clear on the Cima Porzus to claim stage victory in Cividale del Friuli.
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Nieve could only smile in the press room afterwards when he was asked if he would have enjoyed the same freedom had his leader Landa not taken his leave from the race so suddenly.
"Hombre, definitely not," Nieve said. "I would have been working for him on the stage as his gregario, and I certainly wouldn't have been in the break."
Landa's withdrawal from the Giro has stoked no little intrigue, particularly given that he had made such bullish declarations about his long-term intentions during Monday's rest day, buoyed by his startlingly strong showing in the Chianti time trial.
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