Formolo goes all-in on Giro Queen stage

Davide Formolo put in a valiant effort to battle through to finish 9th on stage 16 of the Giro d’Italia from Sacile to Cortina d’Ampezzo (153km).

The race was altered due to extreme weather : being reduced by 60km and two mountain passes removed but still proved an eventful day. A large breakaway of 24 riders escaped in the opening kilometres including Formolo and other notable climbers, but the pace and conditions quickly reduced the group to 6 with Formolo one of the last riders to resist the chase of stage winner and Maglia Rosa Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers).

Formolo : “The stage was really tough. We went out with the intention of going on the attack and aiming for a stage win. Education-First were pushing hard behind so it proved hard to get a big gap. On the final climb I dug very deep to try and distance my rivals but I paid the price for the big effort. It was a very hard stage but we’ll try again soon in the coming days.”

Egan Bernal continues to lead the race with Formolo now moving up to 11th at 12’35’’ heading into the rest day tomorrow. Wednesday’s stage 17 is another bruising day in the mountains which takes the riders from Canazei to Sega di Ala (193km).

Giro d’Italia Stage 16 results

1. Egan Bernal (Ineos-Grenadiers) 4:22:41
2. Romain Bardet (DSM) +27’’
3. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) s.t
9. Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates) 2’33’’

Giro d’Italia General Classification after stage 16

1.Egan Bernal (Ineos-Grenadiers) 66:36:04
2.Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) +2’24’’
3.Hugh Carthy (Education-First) 3’40’’
11. Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates) +12’