Giro Stage 15: Cecil the fox, Verona the helper/hero

 

Rub my head for luck: Derek Gee meets Cecil on stage 15. It probably worked - he moved 

up to fifth place in the GC after finishing 12th!

What's with the fox, you may ask? That is Cecil the fox, the quirky stuffed animal brought to life by the Tifosi. Cecil joined the Giro d'ltalia in 2009 as mascot. He quickly garnered attention with adoring fans and participants alike, becoming part of the Giro's unique atmosphere.

"It was a super hard day out there today. I'm incredibly happy to be sitting fifth, but I also know what's in store for the third week. There's still lots of racing left to do."

-Derek Gee 

Stage 15 results

The helper turn hero: Carlos Verona solos to victory securing a 6th stage win for Lidl-Trek.

"I certainly didn't come to the Giro thinking that I could win a stage and I was happy with that. I was here in full support for Mads Pedersen and Goiulio Ciccone. 

Everything changed yesterday when we lost Cicco. Today is my day. I didn't want to do it for me but I wanted to do it for the team, knowing how much Giulio had worked for this race.

When you are a helper, you need to be there to help them. When they're not here, you need to also be there for the team."

-Carlos Verona. The victory is his only second of his career - his first coming at the Criterium du Dauphine three years ago.

Primoz Roglic's hopes of a second Giro title took a huge hit losing 90 seconds on his main rivals, leaving him almost four minutes behind Isaac del Toro in the Maglia Rosa with a week to go.

"Just happy that I finished."

-Primoz Roglic. He was drop on the second-category Dori given this was the easiest of the five mountain stages left in the race.