Huge test for Philip Deignan as Giro Blockhaus battle arrives
Philip Deignan will step up and take centre stage for Irish fans at the Giro d'Italia today.
With the focus of Irish Giro d’Italia fans having been on Sam Bennett during the first week, Philip Deignan now takes centre stage.
The Team Sky man faces his first big climbing test on the monster Blockhaus ascent at the end of stage 9 today.
Unlike Bora-hansgrohe rider Bennett, Philip Deignan is in this race to support others in his team.
Team Sky’s ace in the pack is Geraint Thomas and just behind him Mikel Landa.
Thomas should put time into many of his climbing rivals in the TTs to come.
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But he is very unlikely to match the climbing prowess of Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Merida).
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It means the job done by climbing domestique Deignan in ensuring Thomas is looked after as well as possible on stages like today’s could be the winning or losing of the race.
If the Welshman can limit his losses with the help of Philip Deignan and the others in the team, he might win this race.
Deignan has taken a top 10 overall and a stage win in Grand Tours before of course; the 2009 Vuelta proving his high point.
And in more recent years he has done a fantastic job on the climbs for Chris Froome in the biggest races in the world.
Having ridden the Giro five times in the past, his climbing and experience will be invaluable for the team today.
The stage takes the riders 152km from Montenero di Bisaccia to Blockhaus and it should prove the first major pink jersey showdown of the race.
Philip Deignan's Sunday afternoon ride
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