Jumbo-Visma left healing wounds as GC ambitions explode in Etna

Jumbo-Visma came to the Giro d'Italia with a three-pronged approach to the general classification at the Giro d'Italia, however the first mountain stage has left them with no-one in sight for the top places.

The race is three weeks long, and much can change. However, the first taste of real climbs have left Jumbo-Visma with severe damage as Tobias Foss and Sam Oomen have shed over two minutes to the GC group. Both have came as outsiders for the overall classification, but a bad day has had them having to change the strategy.

As for Tom Dumoulin, he had raised doubts over his capacity to fight for GC, and today proved it as he didn't have the legs to follow the peloton in the final ascent.

"My body doesn't react the way I'm used to. I worked hard to come to the start here in the best possible shape, but I don't have the right legs. I can’t explain why," he explained. The Dutchman rode a strong time-trial to finish in third place in Budapest, however his form isn't translating to performances on the ascents - which has too been the case at the UAE Tour. After his win in the 2017 edition and the leadership role he's been given, expectations were high that the Dutch rider would be able to return to his stage-racing days, however that will have to wait...