Giro d’Italia: On the scene in Oropa for stage 14

One of my favorite Giro stage finish locations is the stunning Oropa Sanctuary. It’s a favorite with the Giro organizers as well, seeing three stage finishes in the last ten years.

On a beautiful, warm Saturday, an estimated 80,000 tifosi biked, walked, or rode buses to Oropa, where many picnicked on the lawn while enjoying the pre-race entertainment provided by the caravan dancers.

After winning the time trial a few days earlier, Tom Dumoulin picked up a second, more unexpected stage win in Oropa, beating Ilnur Zakarin in the uphill sprint to the line, and gaining time on all of his rivals.

The steep rise didn’t end at the finish line, and RCS staffers and soigneurs rushed to assist riders who had no energy left for more climbing after crossing the line.

Nibali got a push from teammate Franco Pellizotti,

Dario Cataldo had had enough of his bike; he handed it off to an Astana staffer and walked past the assembled photographers until he reached a barricade to lean on.

Rudy Molard led a small group in, three minutes down on Dumoulin.

Siutsou finished 3:35 down,

After finishing the stage, Gaviria was directed to the podium area to collect another maglia ciclamino.

A few podium shots: