Giro: Yates disappointed, not despondent following disastrous Stage 9

Adam Yates (Orica-Scott) started Stage 9 sitting pretty third place on general classification just 10 seconds back on the maglia rosa of the 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia. That was before everything went pear-shaped.

The 24-year-old British climbing specialist hit the tarmac when Team Sunweb’s Wilco Kelderman clipped a stationary police bike parked on the side of the road on the final 13.6km climb to Blockhaus. The domino effect that ensued took down Yates and other GC contenders, including Welshman Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), who started the race four seconds ahead of Yates in second place overall.

Yates remounted his broken bike and limped to the finish in 23rd place to fall to 16th overall – 4 minutes 49 seconds back on the stage winner and new race leader Nairo Quintana (Movistar), who lifted the maglia rosa from previous leader Bob Jungels (Quick-Step Floors) on a climb Australian team-mate Rory Sutherland .

“I’m bitterly disappointed with today’s unfortunate situation, but the Giro isn’t over for us yet,” said Yates. “I came here in great condition after months of hard work and that form hasn’t gone anywhere.

Orica-Scott sports director Matt White shared Yates’ disappointment, as well as his fighting spirit with 12 stages remaining, including Tuesday’s 39.8km individual time trail through the Sagrantino vineyards following the second rest day of the race.

“We are extremely disappointed that something that shouldn’t have happened has had such an impact today,” said White. “We don’t know the circumstances, whether the motorbike stalled or just made an error in judgement in stopping there but you never want to see that happen.

“Unfortunately we feel that Movistar also made a mistake today,” he continued. “Given the scenario of the race, still a long way from the finish and no break to chase, it was possible for them to wait just for a couple of minutes given there were so many GC contenders on the deck.

“The strongest guy won today but the damage behind was significant.

“Look, it was a bad day for us but we won’t give up. It’s put a dent in our podium aspirations but there is still a lot of climbing to come and we will keep fighting. All is not lost.”

1. Nairo Quintana, COL, Movistar, 3:44:51

2. Thibaut Pinot, FRA, FDJ, +0:24

3. Tom Dumoulin, NED, Sunweb, s.t.

1 (7). Nairo Quintana, COL, Movistar, 3:44:51

2 (9). Thibaut Pinot, FRA, FDJ, +0:24

3 (6). Tom Dumoulin, NED, Sunweb, s.t.

75 (82). Adam Hansen, AUS, Lotto Soudal, +42:11

111 (125). Nathan Haas, AUS, Dimension Data, +1:04:04

125 (121). Michael Hepburn, AUS, Orica-Scott, +1:08:11

125 (159). Nathan Haas, AUS, Dimension Data +43:01

157 (158). Caleb Ewan, AUS, Orica-Scott, +1:20:15

158 (155). Alex Edmondson, AUS, Orica-Scott, +1:20:20

170 (177). Rory Sutherland, AUS, Movistar, +1:26:42

DNF — Rohan Dennis, AUS, BMC Racing (Stage 4)