Stage 14: Cherasco - Cervinia 205km
19 May 2012
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Report: Team Sky
Rigoberto Urán claimed the young rider's white jersey at the Giro d'Italia after he and fellow Colombian Sergio Henao produced outstanding rides on the 14th stage.
They finished sixth and 14th respectively on the stage behind Andrey Amador (Movistar), who edged out his fellow breakaway companions Jan Bárta (NetApp) and Alessandro De Marchi (Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela) at the end of an attritional 206 kilometres route from Cherasco to Cervinia.
Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) was next home in fourth after he came out of the chasing pack in the final 4km to put distance between himself and the rest, crossing the line in fourth, 20 seconds behind Amador but crucially 26 seconds ahead of his main general classification rivals.
That saw him take back the maglia rosa from Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) whom he now leads by nine seconds, with Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) up to third, 41 seconds back.
Urán is up to eighth at 1:19, 20 seconds in front of Henao in 11th. And they are first and second in the young rider standings, with a gap of 1:37 to Damiano Caruso (Liquigas-Cannondale) who dropped down to third.
It means Team Sky will take two of the jerseys into stage 15 as Mark Cavendish retains the maglia rossa after safely making it home inside the time limit. Indeed his points lead was extended to 42 after closest rival Matthew Goss (Orica-GreenEDGE) withdrew before the start.
Testing day
The most significant mountain test of the race so far finished with two category one climbs.
A frenetic early pace meant it took 67km for an eight-man break to move clear and by the time they reached the penultimate climb, the 22.4km Col de Joux, their advantage was still over 10 minutes.
Bárta moved clear of his fellow escapees on that ascent but after going over the top Amador launched his effort to bridge the gap and De Marchi then made it a three-man selection.
The peloton was cutting the gap as Liquigas-Cannondale did much of the work on the front but it started to splinter when an attack from José Rujano (Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela) and particularly Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD) forced Astana into action.
All the while Urán and Henao were well placed in that select group and team-mates Geraint Thomas and Juan Antonio Flecha were there supporting them deep into the final 27km climb up to Cervinia.
As the numbers dwindled, the Colombian duo both maintained a steady rhythm and Henao led out Urán in the sprint for fifth place which eventually went to Tiralongo.
Another mountain test awaits on Sunday as stage 15 covers 169km from Busto Arsizio to Lecco/Pian del Resinelli.
Result - Stage 14
1 Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar Team 5:33:36
2 Jan Barta (Cze) Team NetApp
3 Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 0:00:02
Other
53 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling
102 Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Sky Procycling
170 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky Procycling
174 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Sky Procycling
General Classification after Stage 14
1 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Barracuda 59:55:28
2 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 0:00:09
3 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:41
Other
89 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling 1:04:5
121 Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Sky Procycling 1:31:50
145 Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky Procycling 1:54:16
159 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky Procycling 2:05:17
179 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Sky Procycling 2:44:11
Maglia rossa - Points classification Result
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky Procycling 106 pts
2 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 64
3 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox 53
4 Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar Team 52
5 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Barracuda 50
6 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha Team 49
7 Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 48
8 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro Team 43
9 Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez (Col) Androni Giocattoli 36
10 Manuel Belletti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 33
