Thomas De Gendt wins the penultimate stage of the Giro d’Italia 2012
Thomas De Gendt of Team Vacansoleil-DCM opened his 2012 winning account with the biggest victory of his season.
He rode brilliantly during the 218 kilometre chase to Passo dello Stelvio and overcame the race favourites.
The Belgian finished the race in a quickest time of 6 hours, 54 minutes and 41 seconds and restricted Damiano Cunego from achieving the top position.
Cunego finished 56 seconds and occupied the second spot while Mikel Nieve Ituralde of Team Euskaltel-Euskadi finished 2 minutes and 50 seconds behind at the third position.
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver of Team Katusha, Michele Scarponi of Team Lampre-ISD and Ryder Hesjedal of Team Garmin-Barracuda secured the next three spots.
The 25-year-old was delighted after the stage victory, “I did not expect that”.
“I attacked on the Mortirolo, because the descent is very dangerous. All the pieces came together. Carrara was was still in the lead. He helped me a lot".
“And I know the Stelvio very well. I have trained there for six years. I've climbed it 20 or 30 times. It's very nice to win on my mountain."
The Belgian started his professional pursuit with Team Unibet-Davo in 2006 and represented numerous teams for the remaining part of the season.
He also rode for Team Davo (2007-08), Team Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator (2009-10) and finally penned a deal with Team Vacansoleil-DCM for the 2011 season.
Matteo Rabottini of Team Farnese Vini-Selle Italia succeeded during the first, second and the third mountains of the stage while Thomas De Gendt of Team Vacansoleil-DCM wins the fourth mountain of the race.
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver of Team Katusha continued his overall dominance at the general classifications and extended his lead to 31 seconds over Ryder Hesjedal.
Michele Scarponi of Team Lampre-ISD finished third with a total deficit of 1 minute and 51 seconds on the race leader.
Thomas De Gendt of Team Vacansoleil-DCM, Ivan Basso of Team Liquigas-Cannondale and Damiano Cunego of Team Lampre-ISD achieved the fourth, the fifth and the sixth positions in the respective order.
Rodriguez is also leading the point’s classifications with a total number of 139 points in his bag with Team Mark Cavendish of Team Sky and Ryder Hesjedal of Team Garmin-Barracuda holding the second and the third spots.
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