Source : ABC NEWS
Australia’s Luke Plapp has won stage eight of the Giro d’Italia with a formidable solo effort on the 197 kilometre ride from Giulianova to Castelraimondo.
After nearly 20 riders formed a breakaway group with 100km to go, Jayco Alula’s Plapp attacked the Montelago climb.
He did not look back as he rode to victory by a handsome margin to claim his first Grand Tour stage win.
Plapp was so far ahead that there was no chaser in sight.
But the 24-year-old still looked cautiously over his shoulder on the final stretch to the finish, placing his hands on head in disbelief as he crossed the line.
“It’s pretty crazy, I still can’t believe it, to be honest. I feel like it’s been a long time coming,” Plapp said.
“Last year I got so close to the Giro so many times. And for today to happen is so, so special.”
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Wilco Kelderman of Visma-Lease a Bike finished second, while XDS-Astana’s Diego Ulissi came in third, with both riders finishing 38 seconds behind Plapp.
Ulissi became the first Italian in four years to take the overall leader’s pink jersey, ending an 86-stage drought.
He replaced Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) at the top of the general classification.
Ulissi leads his teammate Lorenzo Fortunato by 12 seconds, while Roglič is 17 seconds behind.
Michael Storer (Tudor Pro) is the best-placed Australian in the general classification, sitting 50 seconds behind Ulissi in eighth position.
Earlier, Plapp had attacked with 45km to go in the stage, kicking into a high gear to leave the field behind and riding solo to the top on the Montelago climb.
Plapp stayed in the lead after taking maximum points in the fight for the blue jersey and he had a minute’s lead on the chasers while the peloton was more than six minutes behind with about 20km remaining.
He showed no signs of slowing down as he also conquered the Gagliole climb and remained over five minutes ahead of the peloton on the descent.
“I knew I couldn’t beat any of them in a sprint, so I knew I had to go at some stage pretty early,” Plapp said.
“I think the way the racing’s been going this year, the long moves have been really, really successful.
“The first one to make a move, I think, always has an advantage. I just thought I’d give it a crack and to be honest, I just wanted a bit of a head start on the descent as well.”
Reuters
