It looked like Romain Bardet was on his way for a stage victory in his final ever Grand Tour. The Frenchman made the early breakaway, on the Passo del Tonale and the Passo del Mortirolo, looking very strong. Then, on the final climb, Bardet went on the attack, taking the lead, with a few kilometres of climbing and a swift descent would stand between him and a win.
But, Isaac del Toro and Richard Carapaz caught Bardet. The trio descended and del Toro power away to win thrilling stage 17 extending his overall race lead. Del Toro becomes the first Mexican stage winner in 23 years. He is the youngest rider to hold the pink jersey for at least 9 days since Fausto Coppi in 1940!
"I had marked this stage from the very start of the Giro. Just yesterday, I looked at it again and I was really feeling good, so I had confidence. Even when I got caught, I still believed in it. I had studied the technical finale with all those corners really thoroughly. I knew if I could enter the corner with 200 metres to go in first position, I would win. In the end, Del Toro did an amazing job. The road was getting slippery, and the line he chose was really impressive. He gained five metres there, and that was it. I have no regrets, I raced smart. I truly did everything I could, so there's nothing to feel sorry about and I'm proud of how I'm riding in my final Grand Tour."
-Romain Bardet. He still has one more road race on his calendar before his planned retirement, the Criterium du Dauphine starting next weekend!
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Look back: Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi, 1940 Giro d'ltalia. Coppi (at this first participation) is the
youngest winner of the Giro at 20 years old.
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