It didn't turn out as expected. When the Giro d'Italia set out from Bologna three weeks ago, the list of potential winners was a long one, but few featured the name of Richard Carapaz. The Ecuadorian placed fourth a year ago, but he was not given top billing within his own Movistar team, far less in a Giro field that included Tom Dumoulin, Vincenzo Nibali, Primoz Roglic, Simon Yates and Miguel Angel Lopez.
Over the course of the Giro's three weeks, however, Carapaz quietly emerged as a contender, and then seized the opportunities that presented themselves in the Alps on the third weekend of the race. The 26-year-old was a surprise winner of the race, but there was nothing fortuitous about his victory.
It was not a vintage edition of the Giro but some familiar tenets remained. It was an elimination race, and while contenders fell by the wayside along the way, Carapaz was present and correct at each of the defining moments.
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Dumoulin crashes out
No words needed. When Tom Dumoulin reached the finish in Frascati with blood flowing from his left knee, his Sunweb soigneur understood instinctively what needed to be done. He placed a hand beneath Dumoulin's saddle and gently guided him out of the finish area.
More than four minutes had passed since Richard Carapaz (Movistar) had crossed the line as winner of stage 4 of the Giro d'Italia, but there would be time enough for totting up the day's losses. Right now, the pressing concern was marshalling Dumoulin safely to his team bus.
The road continued to climb past the finish line and Dumoulin's distress was such that he was unable to turn the pedals over at all. Instead, his soigneur continued to nudge him wordlessly up through Piazza Roma and along the cobbled laneway that led to the crest of the hill. At the top, he carefully pushed Dumoulin off to roll down the other side.
San Marino time trial shuffles the deck
Carapaz takes advantage of Roglic–Nibali duel
Roglic loses more than time in Como
Landa stays loyal to the Carapaz cause
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/5-moments-that-defined-the-2019-giro-ditalia
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