by Antonin Gizolme (iDalgo)
Thibaut Pinot had done everything well. Or almost. At the end of a stage shortened from 199 km to 74.6 km due to weather conditions and delayed by four hours, the Colombian Einer Rubio (Movistar) was the quickest to win the first mountain stage of this Giro, his first victory on a big tour. From the start, the peloton left for the ascent of the Croix de Coeur and a team of six – including Pinot – escaped. After a descent that looked like a skating rink on a winding road, the fugitives took a lead of several minutes before arriving at the second difficulty of the day. On the climb to Crans Montana, Pinot made seven attacks without ever managing to let go of Einer Rubio and Jefferson Cepeda (EF). Tense, the French and the Ecuadorian attacked and insulted each other for a long time without managing to decide.
Solid, Rubio clung to him and blew up his competitors in the sprint. In general no change, the leaders are neutralized. Geraint Thomas (Ineos) remains in pink ahead of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) and Joao Almeida (UAE).
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