German stage race specialist Linus Gerdemann had a good day on stage 14 of the Giro d’Italia, moving from seventh to fifth in the general classification of the race.
The Milram rider came home as part of a group two minutes and 26 seconds behind the solo stage winner Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Doimo). The bunch broke up on the day’s big climb, that of Monte Grappa, and Gerdemann got into a chasing group behind the four leaders Nibali, Ivan Basso (Liquigas Doimo), Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocattoli) and Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), and two other chasers, Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) and Carlos Sastre (Cervélo Test Team).
Nibali made his move on the descent off the climb and reached the finish in Asola 23 seconds ahead of Basso, Scarponi and Evans. Vinokourov held on for fifth, 1 minute 33 seconds back, while Gerdemann came home in a group contesting sixth place.
He is now 3 minutes 52 seconds behind the new race leader David Arroyo, and remains on course for a top ten placing overall.
“That was a very difficult day for us. I am satisfied with the outcome of the stage and with my performance,” he stated after the stage. “Tomorrow is another hard mountain stage. I will try to find my own rhythm and climb the Monte Zoncolan as best I can.”
Directeur sportif Christian Henn was more upbeat, calling his ride a ‘super performance.’ “It was optimal! We are looking from day to day. Tomorrow will be really difficult again. That will be a really hard stage. Then comes the well-deserved rest day on Monday.”
The stage to Monte Zoncolan is 161 kilometres in length and traverses five categorised climbs. If Gerdemann can again perform well, he’ll move one step closer to sealing a final place in the top ten.