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Richie Porte’s Giro d’Italia hopes deflated by late puncture Richie Porte’s Giro d’Italia hopes deflated by puncture and penalty
(about 5 hours later)
A late puncture five kilometres from the line proved costly for Team Sky’s Richie Porte as Nicola Boem (Bardiani-CSF) won stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia. A late puncture five kilometres from the line of stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia proved doubly costly for Team Sky’s Richie Porte, as he was then handed a further time penalty after accepting a spare wheel from a fellow rider.
The Italian was part of a breakaway that held off the charging peloton in the finale of the 200km flat stage from Civitanova Marche to Forlì. Porte was initially grateful to his fellow Australian Simon Clarke, who rides for Orica-GreenEdge. Clarke gave Porte his front wheel to help minimise time losses but after the race officials confirmed that, unbeknown to the riders, the move was in breach of a UCI ruling for “non-regulation assistance to a rider of another team”. As a result both riders have received an additional two–minute penalty and a 200 Swiss Franc fine. This puts Porte 3min 9sec behind the race leader, Spain’s Alberto Contador.
Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) enjoyed an uneventful day spent largely beside the Adriatic to retain the overall leader’s pink jersey, with Porte’s bid for the maglia rosa hindered by his mishap in the final stages. Commenting on the time penalty, Team Sky’s principal, Sir Dave Brailsford, said: “It is obviously disappointing that a sporting gesture made in the heat of the moment has resulted in such a strong penalty. No one was trying to gain an unfair advantage.
The Australian, who began the day 22 seconds behind in third, lost 47 seconds to the Spaniard to slip to fourth. “This has, however, just strengthened our resolve and determination to fight for this race. Richie and the whole team are ready to take it on and there is a lot of this Giro left.”
Porte’s fortunes would have been worse but for the sportsmanship of his compatriot Simon Clarke. The Orica-GreenEdge rider gave Porte his wheel to help to minimise time losses. The stage was won by Nicola Boem (Bardiani-CSF). Boem was part of a breakaway that held off the charging peloton in the finale of the 200km flat stage from Civitanova Marche to Forlì.
Porte wrote on Twitter: “Not the best of luck for me today but guess it could have been worse. Ready to fight all the way to Milan! Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) enjoyed an uneventful day spent largely beside the Adriatic to retain the overall leader’s pink jersey, with Porte’s bid for the maglia rosa hindered by his mishap, and the subsequent punishment.
The Australian, who began the day 22 seconds behind in third, lost 2min 47sec to the Spaniard to see his chances of winning the tour all but end.
Prior to the time penalty being imposed, Porte wrote on Twitter: “Not the best of luck for me today but guess it could have been worse. Ready to fight all the way to Milan!
“If that’s not Aussie mate ship then what is? Punctured and clarkey gave me his front wheel.”“If that’s not Aussie mate ship then what is? Punctured and clarkey gave me his front wheel.”
Contador, who is riding after dislocating his shoulder last week, said: “It’s never an easy day, seeing Richie Porte’s case, nothing ever goes to plan. I’ve had my bad moment and Richie’s had his bad moment today.”Contador, who is riding after dislocating his shoulder last week, said: “It’s never an easy day, seeing Richie Porte’s case, nothing ever goes to plan. I’ve had my bad moment and Richie’s had his bad moment today.”
Porte now trails Contador by one minute nine seconds overall, with Fabio Aru (Astana) the nearest challenger, three seconds behind. Spain’s Mikel Landa, also from Astana, moved up to third. Fabio Aru (Astana) is Contador’s nearest challenger, three seconds behind the Spaniard. Mikel Landa, also from Astana, moved up to third.