Jan Hirt Wins Stage 16 of the Giro as Carapaz Holds Onto the Overall Lead

By Monica Buck

The Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert rider became only the eighth Czech to ever win a stage of a Grand Tour. Jan Hirt also became only the fifth rider from Czechia to win at the Giro d’Italia.

He was part of the big 22-rider break but was far from being the favourite to win the mountain stage. There was Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange-Jayco), Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and other notable climbers. Hirt was even initially dropped but has worked his way back and topped all the others in the end. In 2019, he finished second on the Mortirolo and now he managed to do one place better. Congratulations to both him and the team!

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Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe), Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers), and Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) all took turns trying to attack, knowing any seconds gained might prove decisive in the general classification. Jai Hindley claimed third place in the end and the bonus with it. He moved within three seconds of Carapaz and the GC fight just got even tighter.

Giro d’Italia stage 16 results

  1. Jan Hirt (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) – 5:40:45
  2. Thymen Arensman (Team DSM) + 7 seconds
  3. Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) + 1:24

General classification after stage 16

  1. Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers)- 68:49:06
  2. Jai Hindley (BORA-Hansgrohe) + 3 seconds
  3. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) + 44 seconds
  4. Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) + 59 seconds
  5. Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Qazaqstan Team) + 3:40
  6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) + 3:48
  7. Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious) + 3:51
  8. Emanuel Buchmann (BORA-hansgrohe) + 4:45
  9. Jan Hirt (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) + 7:42
  10. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) + 9:04