Hope for a sprint finish lingered until late in the 16th Stage of the Giro d'Italia on Tuesday, as the maglia rosa group pulled back the remaining riders of an original 20-plus rider breakaway headed toward Andrate (6.2km, 8.4% average gradient, 13% max ramp) — the final climb of the day, at the 220.5km mark of 238 total kilometers.
However, a select group emerged on the final climb as sprinters began to lose contact. With 20.8km to go, it was clear only a small group of riders would decide the stage as all top GC contenders — except Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia) — were ahead.
The select group attacked each other relentlessly, but the move that would decide the race was Robert Gesink (Blanco Pro Cycling Team), Benat Intxausti (Movistar Team), Tanel Kangert (Astana) and Przemyslaw Niemiec (Lampre-Merida) ahead inside the final 4km. Gesink suffered a mechanical with 1.5km to go, leaving the final to be decided by three riders.
Niemiec launched his sprint from afar, but it was Intxausti who won the stage. Kangert was 2nd, Niemiec 3rd.
OPQS looks next to a 214km flat Stage 17 on Wednesday.