The Giro d’Italia’s race jury has upheld an appeal by the Blanco Pro Cycling team to award Robert Gesink the same time as yesterday’s stage winner, Beñat Intxausti (Movistar), after the Dutchman’s chain became unshipped in the final two kilometres. Gesink was part of a four-man breakaway group approaching the stage 16 finish, in Ivrea, when the incident occurred. He was forced to stop and replace his chain, and was subsequently overtaken by the chasing group of general classification leaders.
By the time he crossed the line Gesink had lost 23 seconds to Intxausti, which equated to a nine second loss to the race leaders. Gesink should have been okay, and credited the time of Intxausti, he thought, since International Cycling Union (UCI) rule 2.6.027 states:
In the case of a duly noted fall, puncture or mechanical incident in the last three kilometers of a road race stage, the rider or riders involved shall be credited with the time of the rider or riders in whose company they were riding at the moment of the accident. His or their placing shall be deter- mined by the order in which he or they actually cross the finishing line.
Unfortunately for the Dutchman though, the race jury initially ruled that this rule did not apply, which meant that - as well as denying him the chance to fight for the stage victory - the incident also cost him time. Gesink tweeted an unaccredited picture of himself, taken as the incident was unfolding, where his lose chain can clearly be seen.
This decision was appealed by the Blanco team, however, and the jury reconsidered its initial decision. Gesink has since been accredited with the same time as Intxausti, as RCS Sport managing director Michele Acquarone confirmed via his Twitter feed.
“The jury's upheld the @BlancoCycling appeal. No gap for Gesink in the yesterday's stage,” Acquarone wrote.
The change of heart from the race jury means that, rather than losing nine seconds to the overall contenders in the chasing group, he has actually gained 14 seconds and, as a result has lifted himself back into the top ten.
Revised standings after stage 16
1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Team Astana
2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team @ 1’26”
3. Rigoberto Urán (Col) Team Sky @ 2’46”
4. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida @ 3’53”
5. Przemislaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida @ 4’13”
6. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia @ 4’57”
7. Carlos Betancur (Col) AG2R La Mondiale @ 5’15”
8. Rafal Majka (Pol) Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ 5’20”
9. Beñat Intxausti (Spa) Movistar Team @ 5’47”
10. Robert Gesink (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling @ 7’24”