Aussie Rory Sutherland shines in fight for Giro d'Italia stage win

While Australian pro cyclist Rory Sutherland rarely makes headlines, the 35-year-old Movistar super domestique is critical to the team’s success — primarily that of team leader and Giro d’Italia pre-race favourite Nairo Quintana.

However on Wednesday’s Stage 17, Sutherland, along with Spanish teammate and stage 8 winner Gorka Izagirre, joined in an extended breakaway for the 219-kilometre stage win in Canazei.

“It was a hard stage, especially after yesterday,” said Sutherland, referencing the Giro’s queen stage on Tuesday. “We wanted to be represented in the breakaway, but Gorka and myself were in in the beginning just to make sure that we kept things under control if anything happened in the back, if the classification riders caught up or if anything happened. Then it became kind of certain that we were actually going for the victory.”

Sutherland and Izagirre joined a 40-rider break after two Cat 2 climbs — Aprica and Tonale. After several split attempts, the Movistar tandem joined a group of 25 before the break quickly shrunk to just 13.

The Aussie eventually made part of a four-man attack alongside Busato (WIL), Woods (CDT) and Bernard (TFS) with 12km to go, and that move was made increasingly strong as Gorka, Rui Costa (UAD) and Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) bridged back. 

A late push from Dimension Data made the junction possible — and gave rival Pierre Rolland (CDT) the opportunity to solo with 7km to an uncontested victory, followed in order by Costa, Izagirre and Sutherland and nine other riders 24 seconds back.

“With about 80km to go it started getting pretty hard, with lots of gaps and attacking,” explained Sutherland, a former Tour of Utah and USA Pro Challenge stage winner. “Gorka and I covered all of those well, even in the finale. Then, it’s Murphy’s law that the one attack that goes and you don’t chase is the one that makes it to the finish line. 

“However, we can be proud of the day, I think,” he continued. “It’s frustrating to not be able to pick up a win when you’ve got that opportunity, but that’s the beauty of cycling.”

Following the stage, the maglia rosa remained with Tom Dumoulin, who maintained a 31-second lead over next in line Quintana and 1 minute 12 seconds on two-time race winner and Grand Tour triple crown winner Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida).

The centenary edition of the race moves on to stage 18 (137km) on Thursday with five categorised climbs in the Dolomites, including the Pontives (Cat-1) which is just 4km from the finish in Ortisei.

“It’s back to work for Nairo, even if today was the same but in a different situation, keeping the team present in the break,” said Sutherland. “Tomorrow will be another important day in the GC, and hopefully we can move closer to that pink jersey.”

1. Pierre Rolland, FRA, Cannondale-Drapac, 5:42:56

2. Rui Costa, POR, UAE Team Emirates, +0:24

3. Gorka Izagirre, ESP, Movistar, s.t.

4. Rory Sutherland, AUS, Movistar, s.t.

1 (1). Tom Dumoulin, NED, Sunweb, 76:05:38

2 (2). Nairo Quintana, COL, Movistar, +0:31

3 (3). Vincenzo Nibali, ITA, Bahrain-Merida, +1:12

11 (10). Adam Yates, GBR, Orica-Scott, +7:00

97 (96). Adam Hansen, AUS, Lotto Soudal, +2:28:21

122 (134). Rory Sutherland, AUS, Movistar, +2:53:03

125 (127). Michael Hepburn, AUS, Orica-Scott, +2:56:12

DNF — Rohan Dennis, AUS, BMC Racing (Stage 4)

DNF — Nathan Haas, AUS, Dimension Data (Stage 11)

DNF — Caleb Ewan, AUS, Orica-Scott (Stage 15)

DNS — Alex Edmondson, AUS, Orica-Scott (Stage 17)

For full results click here.