Jan Tratnik (Bahrain – McLaren) has won Stage 16 of the 103rd Giro d’Italia, 229km from Udine to San Daniele del Friuli.
Breakaway companions Ben O’Connor (NTT Pro Cycling Team) and Enrico Battaglin (Bahrain – McLaren) finished second and third, respectively.
João Almeida (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) retains the Maglia Rosa and extends his lead in the general classification, having taken 2″ over his rivals with a strong sprint to the uphill finish.
STAGE RESULTS
1 – Jan Tratnik (Bahrain – McLaren) – 229km in 6h04’36”, average speed 37.685km/h
2 – Ben O’Connor (NTT Pro Cycling Team) at 7”
3 – Enrico Battaglin (Bahrain – McLaren) at 1’14”.
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – João Almeida (Deceuninck – Quick-Step)
2 – Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb) at 17”
3 – Jai Hindley (Team Sunweb) at 2’58”
THE JERSEYS
Maglia Rosa (pink), general classification leader, sponsored by Enel – João Almeida (Deceuninck – Quick-Step)
Maglia Ciclamino (cyclamen), sprinter classification leader, sponsored by Segafredo Zanetti – Arnaud Démare (Groupama – FDJ)
Maglia Azzurra (blue), King of the Mountains classification leader, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Giovanni Visconti (Vini Zabu’ – Brado – KTM)
Maglia Bianca (white), young rider general classification leader, sponsored by Eurospin – João Almeida (Deceuninck – Quick-Step)
Speaking seconds after the stage finish, the stage winner Jan Tratnik said: “I still can’t believe I’ve won. I attacked so far from the finish and the last climb was very hard. I didn’t think I could do it, but in the end, it was a perfect day. We are close to the Slovenian border so today my brother and my girlfriend were here. 500 meters from the finish I saw my girlfriend and I found some extra energy that allowed me to win”.
The Maglia Rosa João Almeida said: “Sometimes the best defence is to attack. In the end I was feeling good and I attacked, gaining a few seconds. It went well”.
