2014 Giro roundup - first week

The Stage 1 team time trial around Belfast saw some gaps appearing immediately for GC contenders.  Nairo Quintana lost nearly a minute to other rivals, and Joaquim Rodriguez lost even more time.  Cadel Evans and Rigoberto Uran came in near the top.

A huge bunch of contenders finished together on Stage 2 for no significant changes to GC.

Stage 3 saw a slight gap at the finish with most finishing 11sec down on the stage winner.  Michele Scarponi managed to be on the right side of this gap so gained.

Stage 4 was another wet day - this time in Southern Italy - and the peloton neutralized the race to avoid crashes.  So no changes in the GC.

All contenders come in just 1 sec down on the winner - so no change for Stage 5.

Cannondale image

Stage 6 was another wet one with everyone trying to be at the front - a tactic that inevitably increases the likelihood of crashes.  A big crash ended Joaquim Rodriguez's challenge, and left other GC people delayed.  Big gain for Cadel Evens who was at the front, came in with the stage winner and put 45sec into every other contender.

Stage 7 saw no changes - many were bruised from the previous days crash.

Stage 8 was a proper "medium mountain stage" -  and saw the fading of race leader Michael Rogers.  Cadel Evans took over the pink jersey, with Nario Quintana and Rigoberto Uran being careful to not loose time to him.  Other contenders lost time - Ivan Basso 16sec on Cadel, Damiano Cunego 3 mins.

Stage 9 (today, Sunday 18th) is another medium mountain stage.  Overall standing is:

Cadel Evans - leading
Rigoberto Uran - 57sec down
Diego Ulissi @ 1min43sec
Nairo Quintana @ 1min 45sec
Domenico Pozzovivo @ 1min 50sec
Ivan Basso @ 2min

There's another medium hill stage on Wednesday but the real, high mountains are much later.  Contenders will be counting on one bad day for Cadel being enough to change the standings...later.