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Giro d'Italia 2016: Stage 9 live race updates, blog

15th May, 2016
Stage type: individual time trial
Distance: 40.4 kilometres
TV: Live, Eurosport and SBS
General classification
1 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx - Quick-Step 33:39:14
2 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:23
3 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:00:33
4 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:36
5 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:45
6 Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge 0:00:48
7 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:00:49
8 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff Team 0:00:54
9 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
10 Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Team Sky 0:01:03
Fabian Cancellara will be keen to land one last victory at the Tour de France tonight in his hometown of Berne. (AFP, BELGA / THIERRY ROGE)
Editor
15th May, 2016
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1114 Reads

Stage 9 of the Giro d’Italia is a 40.4-kilometre time trial that could well decide who stands on the podium in Torino at the end of May. Join The Roar for live coverage of this crucial stage from 11:30pm (AEST).

Tom Dumoulin has either admitted defeat or is playing a clever game ahead of the first major time trial of the 2016 Giro.

After shocking the cycling world with a phenomenal 2015 Vuelta a Espana, Dumoulin came to Italy playing down his chances of general classification victory, saying he was simply looking to get a few time trial victories.

But having won the opening stage time trial, and a putting in a dominant performance on the first mountain stage only days ago, the 25-year-old put himself forward as a contender for the Maglia Rosa at the end of the year’s first Grand Tour.

However that all took a turn for the worse yesterday, as Dumoulin tumbled out of the top ten on the race’s second major mountain stage.

“At least 20 or 30 riders were better than me today, so it makes no sense to go for GC,” the Dutchman said after yesterday’s effort.

“Looking at it now, we’re going back to plan A, which was the time trials.”

And so we come to today, a technical, rolling ride, which ultimately has a 300-metre altitude net loss, but also features the climb of the Panzano da bivio Piazza toward the end.

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(For a complete breakdown of the stage, check out Brendon Vella’s awesome preview.)

It’s a stage that will have a major say on who is wearing pink come May 29, but as to who is the favourite for the day… Well, it’s wide open.

Legendary time triallist Fabian Cancellara was crook on Day 1 in the Netherlands, so will be eager to get a stage win in his last Italian Grand Tour.

Pre-race favourite Vincenzo Nibali has had a bit of a disappointing Giro thus far, but he’s one of only six cyclists in the sport’s history to have won all three Grand Tours. Bloke can time trial, and he’s due for a good day.

Of course, Dumoulin has a lot to prove and while he’s saying he wants time trial stages, a big showing today would put him back in the conversation for overall victory.

And while he’s not noted for his time trial skills, ‘Our’ Esteban Chaves is a mountain man, so could very well put in the kind of showing to climb a few places from his current sixth.

Regardless, this is a definitive stage and the GC is going to see a serious shake up by the end of the day.

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Prediciton
Scott Pryde was brave enough to call Jack Bobridge for a breakaway win on Stage 7, and I gave The Roar‘s most dedicated blogger all kinds of hell for such a wild prediction.

Scott was a ways off, but you gotta respect the courage. So I’ll be a complete coward and say Bobridge too.

Hey, the Aussie can time trial with the best. Why not?

Join us on The Roar for all the action from 11:30pm (AEST). Defining stage of a Grand Tour? It’s gunna be sick!

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