- It was the toughest day of my life.
It could not be better: I took the pink leader jersey and Jai won the stage, says the Dutchman Kelderman to AP after over six hours of cycling when they covered 207 km with a finish in Laghi di Cancano.
When Joao Almeida showed problems at the beginning of the climb up to the Stelvio Pass at an altitude of 2758 meters, it was clear that the Portuguese would lose the pink leader jersey he had worn for 15 days.
He was almost five minutes behind on the stage.
Almeida fought well and finished seventh but lost to fifth overall.
Ineos Grenadiers cyclists Rohan Dennis and Tao Geogheagan Hart drove hard up the 48 serpentine turns on their way to the snow-covered Stelvio Pass, where this year's highest point on the Girot, Cima Coppi, was located during the so-called queen stage.
They brought with them Sunweb's Jai Hindley who released his captain Wilco Kelderman who had to fend for himself.
Hindley's first stage victory
In the end, only Hindley and Geogheagan Hart remained in the lead.
As an assistant rider for Kelderman, Hindley left all the traction to Geogheagan Hart and was able to win a close sprint.
Kelderman lost a lot of time at the end and has only a 12 second lead in total to Hindley and 15 to Geogheagan Hart and Girot feels completely open before the end.
- Now we have to recover and make up the tactics and see what happens during the last stages, says Kelderman.
For the Australian Hindley, it was the first stage victory in a Grand Tour.
- It is a fantastic feeling and a big step in my career.
Our tactics worked perfectly today, says Hindley.