Giro d'Italia 2024 Stage 17

May 22, 2024 The weather cleared, providing stunning views of the Dolomites at the sign in. The start was straight up hill, making for a very difficult task for many of the riders. There was no break by the time they got to the top of the Colle Sella which was named the Cima Coppi. Giulio Pellizzari of Bardiani CSF-Faizanè wanted the prize and got a nice gap. Nairo Quintana of Movistar came with speed and the pair hit the line at the same time. In the photo, it was decided that Pellizzari took the sprint and the prestigious prize. On the descent, riders were all over the road. Only 20 riders were still in the Maglia Rosa group when the descent flattened. Julian Alaphilippe of Soudal Quickstep and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier of Lidl-Trek got a gap on the downhill and were soon joined by Quintana and Pellizzari at the front of the race. Marco Frigo of Israel-Premier Tech, Georg Steinhauser of EF-Education EasyPost, Davide Ballerini of Astana, and Damiano Caruso of Bahrain-Victorious were next to join to make 8 riders in the break with 124KM to race. The break hit the 19KM climb of the Passo Rolle with a 2 minute lead to the Maglia Rosa group and a 1 minute lead to 2 chasers, Attila Valter of Visma-Lease a Bike and Nicola Conci of Alpecin-Deceuninck. The chasers did make it on with 109KM to go. UAE seemed content to allow the break to gain ground but DSM-Firmenich took control to keep the break tight. The pressure put on by DSM-Firmenich brought the break back on the Passo Gobbera with 61.5KM to go. They kept piling on the pressure, mainly with Kevin Vermaerke. Vermaerke pulled off over the top of the Passo Gobbera and Ghebreigzabhier attacked again. Steinhauser followed, finally reaching Ghebreigzabhier at 53 KM to go at which point they had a 30 second lead. DSM-Firmenich did the job again on the first passage up the Passo Brocon, this time with Gijs Leemreize. Steinhauser went over the Brocon first, 20 seconds ahead of Ghebreigzabhier and 1 minute 42 seconds on the peloton. Steinhauser hit the final ascent of the Brocon, this time from Pieve Tesino, with 50 seconds on Ghebreigzabhier and 2 minutes 44 seconds on the Maglia Rosa group. Ineos set the pace on the climb and with 3KM to go, Ben O'Connor of Decathlon AG2R was the first to show cracks. Shortly after, Dani Martinez of Bora-Hansgrohe attacked and trimmed the group further but could not get away. Tadej Pogačar of UAE countered and quickly got 10 seconds. It was all white noise to Steinhauser though, he was able to survive to take the Premio Torriani as the winner of the stage with the Cima Coppi, his first professional victory in his first Grand Tour. Pogačar rolled in next, 18 seconds later came Antonio Tiberi of Bahrain-Victorious, Geraint Thomas of Ineos, Dani Martinez, Einer Rubio of Movistar and Romain Bardet of DSM-Firmenich. GC stayed in the same order but gaps expanded. Pogačar now holds a lead of 7 minutes and 42 seconds on Martinez.