CYCLING TOUR OF ITALY: DANIEL TEKLEHAIMANOT PUT ON THE JERSEY
FOR THE BEST CLIMBER
ON 6 MAY 2017 AT 19:15
Dimension Data rider Daniel Teklehaimanot led the way at the top of Genna Silana. André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) won the second stage of the Tour of Italy on 221 km between Olbia and Tortoli (Sardinia) on Saturday.
However, the day started quite logically with a morning break: Eritrean Daniel Teklehaimanot (Dimension Data), Polish Lukasz Owsian (CCC), Italy's Simone Andreetta (Bardiani), Russian Evgeniy Shalunov (Gazprom) and Belarusian Ilia Koshevoy (Wilier Triestina). The five fugitives of the day counted up to 6'20 "ahead of the peloton but the gap gradually decreased and the junction was made 47 km from the finish. Several runners tried to get out of the pack to play the mountain points but the Dimension Data rider managed to keep his distance to take first place at the top. Indeed, On the coast of Genna Silana (2nd category), Owsian and Andreetta let go. Koshevoy, Shalunov and Eritrean were picked up by the peloton at the top, 47 km from the finish. The rider of the African team Dimension Data, already on the attack Friday, managed to pass first the banner of the 'Grand Prix of the mountain', which ensured him to put on the blue jersey of the best climber.
--Software translation--
Daniel Teklehaimanot steps on the gas to claim the King of the Mountains jersey
Giro hero
Daniel Teklehaimanot - It may seem churlish not to name Greipel as the man of the day, but Teklehaimanot put in a barn-storming display to win both intermediate sprints and take maximum KOM points over the Cat.2 Genna Silana pass from the breakaway.
Timing his acceleration to perfection, the Dimension Data rider dropped feisty co-escapee Shalunov before holding the returning peloton at bay to take the points over the summit that saw him move into the lead in the king of the mountains competition.
Having become the first Eritrean to wear the Tour de France’s polka dot jersey last July, Teklahaimanot repeated that feat for the Giro’s maglia azzurra – and trails Greipel by just three points in the points classification, too. Not a bad day at the office for the rangy 28-year-old climber…
What they said
“It was a very hard day – six hours on the bike with a headwind. I’m really proud of my team-mates who supported me. I’m really proud of this stage win and the pink jersey, which I dedicate to my team-mates and my mother.” An, er, proud Andre Greipel after making a little piece of history on Saturday.
Stage in a tweet
Besides Teklehaimanot's blue cameo and some stunning scenery, there was not much for fans to enjoy. Even the riders looked to be checking their messages on their mobile phones...
