Previously sitting in second place overall in the race, Cadel Evans’ likely chance of a runner-up slot in this year’s Giro d’Italia was lost in the final two kilometres of Saturday’s stage to Tre Cime di Lavaredo. The Australian rider had been distanced by the race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) plus the Colombians Rigoberto Urán (Team Sky) and Carlos Betancur (AG2R La Mondial) and while he fought hard to limit his losses, he suddenly conceded ground nearer to the finish.
The net result was that he crossed the line fourteenth, one and a half minutes after stage winner Nibali.
While some presumed the explosion was down to fading energy at the end of a tough Grand Tour, Evans clarified afterwards that there was a different reason why he incurred such a time loss.
“I had a technical problem at two kilometres to go all the way to the finish and that cost me second place,” he said afterwards. He dropped 33 seconds in one kilometre alone and also 28 additional seconds closer to the line.
“He tried to resolve the technical issue, but the severe weather and the nature of the problem prevented him from doing so and it cost him valuable time,” explained BMC Racing Team President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz.
Evans had started the stage four minutes and two seconds behind Nibali and ten seconds ahead of Uran. He dropped one minute and eleven seconds to Uran and as a result, slid down to third.
“All day, Cadel had good legs,” said BMC Racing Team assistant director Fabio Baldato. “For sure, second was better than third. But we are still on the podium and tomorrow we need to control to make the race safe and then the goal is reached.”
The Giro d’Italia concludes Sunday with a flat stage to Brescia.