Giro d'Italia 2020, stage 16 — full results and standings: Jan Tratnik escapes to victory as Joao Almeida extends lead
Jan Tratnik won the biggest race of his career on Tuesday as he claimed stage 16 at the Giro d'Italia while Joao Almeida held on to the pink jersey.
Slovenian rider Tratnik (Bahrain-McLaren) beat Ben O'Connor (NTT) by seven seconds at the end of the hilly 229-kilometre route from Udine to San Daniele del Friuli.
Neither of them had ever won a stage in a grand tour and both entered the final kilometre together. However, it was Tratnik who crossed the line first, with his arms outstretched and tears streaming down his face. O'Connor thumped the handlebars in frustration.
Enrico Battaglin was third, 1min 14sec behind his Bahrain-McLaren team-mate.
Almeida led the group of overall favorites across, nearly 13 minutes after Tratnik, and increased his lead slightly after attacking in the final two kilometres.
The Giro continues on Wednesday with the 202km run from Bassano del Grappa to Madonna di Campiglio and concludes on Sunday in Milan.
