One of the revelations of the Giro d’Italia so far, young British rider Hugh Carthy revealed Vincenzo Nibali wasn’t happy with him at the finish yesterday.
The EF Education First rider, who took 5th on yesterday’s
stage 16, and Nibali turned on the line to exchange words with the young
British rider.
While the group was not sprinting for the victory, as
three riders were ahead, Nibali and Carthy both contested the sprint, the
Italian winning it.
But having sat on Nibali for periods during what was an
epic stage, Nibali seemed very displeased Carthy had gone up for the sprint.
The Bahrain Merida rider, who may still win the race
overall, had earlier in the Giro become annoyed at being followed around by
Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma).
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But while Roglic was distance yesterday by the group Nibali
and Carthy were in, along with race leader Richard Carapaz, Nibali clearly
believed Carthy should have and could have done more work.
Photos emerged of Nibali turning to Carthy as they went over the line and saying something to him.
And after the stage Carthy, who was able to respond when
Nibali pushed on on the Mortirolo, confirmed there was something of an
atmosphere between the two.
However, he said he had team mates up in the breakaway
and as a result was told not to ride with Nibali.
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"We hit the Mortirolo and the race exploded… teams
just started riding harder and harder," Carthy said.
"Then Nibali attacked and got a gap. I bridged across
to him. I probably could’ve waited with the little group I was with."
However, while Nibali may have expected total cooperation
from the 24-year-old British rider at that time, he left the lion’s share of
the work to the Italian veteran.
"I still had two teammates up the road at that
point, and he wanted me to work on the climb," he said.
"But when you're riding at a 10-to-12 per cent
gradient, there's not much shelter there anyway."
He also said he continued to keep his powder in the
valley as it the general classification riders had the main responsibility to
ride.
And he also felt the breakaway men, of which three
survived, may be caught and the stage win could be up for grabs.
"So I sprinted for fourth in the end and got
fifth," he said of the stage end after three men survived out front.
"Nibali beat me but I don't think he was happy with
that. But it wasn't a disrespect thing. It was just bike racing."
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