Quintana powers way into Giro lead

NAIRO Quintana stamped his authority on the Giro d’Italia when he claimed the overall lead by winning the first big mountain stage, as British hopes took a blow in a motorcycle incident yesterday.

Defending champion Vincenzo Nibali was also dealt a big knock when he cracked on the final climb, a punishing 13.6km ascent up the Blockhaus.

Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas and Orica-Scott’s Adam Yates were both brought down in a crash at the foot of the climb when a stationary police motorcycle at the side of the road caused a big pile-up.

Thomas, who appeared to be suffering from a right shoulder injury, needed a couple of minutes to get back on his bike.

Yates finished four minutes 38 seconds behind and Thomas’s ordeal ended 5:07 after Quintana had crossed the line.

Colombian Quintana (Movistar), looking to win his second Giro title, made the decisive move 4.7km from the finish of the 149km ninth stage from Montenero de Bisaccia, dropping Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) and Nibali (Bahrain-Merida). Pinot limited the damage to take second place, finishing just ahead of Dutchman Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb), 24 seconds off the pace.

Nibali was fifth, 59 seconds behind Quintana.

Overall, Quintana leads second-placed Pinot by 28 seconds and third-placed Dumoulin by 30 seconds.

Today is a rest day.