Greig Leach

This duo from the original break of twelve proved to be the strongest on the ascent of the Prato Nevoso. Maximilian Schachman (Quick Step) is looking back to see where the other two had gone, while Mattia Cattaneo (Androni Giocattoli) was looking at Schachmann. It looks to me like Cattaneo is about to take advantage of Schachmann's blind side to go on an attack. Ultimately, it was Schachmann who took stage honors on the summit adding to Quicksteps impressive total of stage wins in the Giro (5) and this season (36). Cattaneo did finish second. All of the break ended the day well ahead of the GC contenders who finished their day eleven minutes after Schachmann. More about that in the next post.