When vincenzo nibali won the pink jersey of the overall leader at 96. Giro d’italia, top favorite bradley wiggins was left in the role of spectator only.
The british olympic champion still has a chance to reach his rough goal after the hard time trial from gabicce mare to saltara over 54.8 kilometers. And after winning the tour de france last year, he now has the chance to triumph in the tour of italy as well.
After his crash the day before, bad luck stayed with wiggins for the time being. After only a few kilometers, the professional rider from the sky racing team had to change after a defect on the rear wheel of his special time trial bike. But the 33-year-old kept his nerves, showed his class in the final third and finished second behind his compatriot alex dowsett, who celebrated his first stage victory in one of the three major national tours after 1:16:27 hours. Third place went to the esten tanel kangert (astana). Best german was patrick gretsch (ARG) in 13th place.
Nibali is now leading the overall ranking – for the second time after 2010 he wears the pink jersey of the leader. Argster chaser is the australian cadel evans (BMC), who is 29 seconds behind. Behind the two there is already a small gap. The dutchman robert gesink (blanco) was third with a gap of 1:15 minutes. Nibali and wiggins in fourth place 1:16 minutes apart.
On sunday, the riders will face stage 9. Stage from sansepolcro to florence over 170.0 kilometers before the first rest day of this year’s tour of italy on monday.