Carnage at the Giro: Rodriguez loses big time; Evans gains big time; the pink jersey wins the day

Everything looked to be shaping up as normal as the race headed into its final 12 kilometres yesterday ... the early break was being swept up and the final climb to the finish beckoned. It was a chance for the favorites to try and steal a second or two over one another and for Michael Matthews to try hang onto his pink jersey for another day. But laying underneath it all was the rumblings of chaos.

That break had just been caught, the rain was falling and the roads were becoming ever greasy, the pace was being ramped up as the race charged towards that climb and everyone was scrambling for position. Cadel Evans seen all the hallmarks of a crash and he put his team on the front.

And then there was a crash.

Two crashes in quick succession, the first bringing down a handful of riders, the second bringing down -- or at least holding up -- what appeared to be some 186 riders. Only eight men remained in motion and one of them was Evans. Three of them were his teammates. Another was the pink jersey of Michael Matthews.

The hammer went down and the time gaps began to grow.

Another left behind and on the ground was Giampaolo Caruso. He lay motionless for quite some time before finally being lifted into an ambulance though did appear to be conscious.

Onto the climb and Evans had his BMC boys put down a hard tempo. Eventually Evans himself took over as the gap hovered anywhere from 30 to 40 seconds from a large group chasing behind. As they neared the finished the pink jersey of Matthews sprung past Evans to take the stage, but the older of the two Australians will not have worried too much. The time gained in the bigger picture was what mattered to him most.

Further back was Joaqium Rodriguez, brought down in the crash and losing huge chunks of time. Nicholas Roche was also stranded with a broken bike and because of the carnage was left waiting a length of time for a new one that ruled him right out of Giro contention. He would roll home more than 15 minutes behind the stage winner. Rodriguez would lose 7 minutes, 43 seconds and later abandon the race with a broken rib and broken thumb.

What it has done is put Evans in a superb position and so long as he keeps himself up right he can go into the mountains looking to contain his rivals rather than having to take time. That style of racing will suit Evans best, especially at the age of 37 now. Others like Nairo Quintana and Rigoberto Uran, who came home in a large group 49 seconds behind Evans, will be forced to go on the attack. While it's a shame to lose Rodriguez from the race and Roche from GC contention, the race is still up for grabs and the Giro has still a lot to offer in the coming weeks, though I can see how it's beginning to look like the winner might be whomever is the last man standing!

Result

1. Michael Matthews (Orica Greenedge) in 6-37-01

2. Tim Weelens (Lotto Belisol) + s.t.

3. Cadel Evans (BMC) + s.t.

4. Matteo Rabottini (Neri Sottoli) + s.t.

5. Ivan Santaromita (Orica Greenedge) + 13 sec

6. Steve Morabito (BMC) + 23 sec

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15. Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) + 49 sec

19. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) + s.t.

28. Ivan Basso (Cannondale) + s.t.

89. Joaqium Rodriguez (Katusha) + 7-43

171. Nicolas Roche (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 15-08

General Classification

1. Michael Matthews (Orica Greenedge) in 24-18-14

2. Cadel Evans (BMC) + 21 sec

3. Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) + 1-18

4. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 1-25

5. Steve Morabito (BMC) + s.t.

6. Matteo Rabottini (Neri Sottoli) + s.t.

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11. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) + 2-08