Giro d'Italia: Nans Peters wins stage 17 as Richard Carapaz extends lead

30th May 2019 | Source: BBC

Nans Peters is racing in his second Grand Tour

Frenchman Nans Peters claimed his first professional victory with a solo effort on stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia.

The AG2R La Mondiale rider, 25, surged clear of a 17-man group to finish one minute 34 seconds ahead of Colombian Esteban Chaves on the 181km route from Commezzadura to Anterselva/Antholz.

Ecuador's Richard Carapaz increased his overall lead over Italian Vincenzo Nibali by seven seconds to 1:54.

Britain's Hugh Carthy finished 22nd and Simon Yates 29th.

Mitchelton-Scott's Yates, the current Vuelta d'Espana champion, is eighth overall, 7:13 behind Carapaz.

Peters breaks his duck

Ranked as the best junior rider in France in 2012, Peters' win was AG2R La Mondiale's first in the Giro for eight years.

Peters, whose only other grand tour experience came at the Vuelta a Espana in 2018, attacked off the front of the breakaway group 15km from the finish and stretched his advantage up the demanding 5.5km climb to the Biathlon Stadium.

Behind him a relatively quiet day in the peloton sparked into life up the final ascent, with Movistar's Carapaz and Mikel Landa the main beneficiaries.

Landa, who is fourth in the general classification, gained 19 seconds on Bahrain Merida's Nibali.

Slovenia's Primoz Roglic, riding for Jumbo-Visma, lost seven seconds and now sits 2:09 behind Carapaz, who turned 26 on Wednesday.

Stage 18, largely made up of descents, takes the riders 222km from Valdaora to Santa Maria di Sala, before the mountain stages on Friday and Saturday.

The three-week race finishes in Verona on Sunday.