Richard Carapaz resists offensive to stay on top of Giro rankings: "The overall is going to be decided in minimal details"

Richard Carapaz, like every rider in the peloton, endured a very difficult day at the Giro d'Italia. His lead was put to the test for the first time, however the leader of INEOS Grenadiers responded readily with a strong performance into Aprica.

Carapaz stressed the difficulties that stage 16 brought to him and INEOS Grenadiers, however a day saved as Carapaz kept up with Jai Hindley and Mikel Landa to keep the race lead: “It's been a pretty tough day for us, with a lot of important people on the break. Astana and Bahrain have tightened the race and have set a great pace."

With a large breakaway attacking early in the day, INEOS saw themselves under pressure as even before the first climb of the day officially began, Carapaz had only Pavel Sivakov with him at a certain point. However, the British team regained control of the peloton, and witnessed first hand how the work of Astana Qazaqstan Team and Bahrain - Victorious destroyed it once again, setting up for attacks from Vincenzo Nibali and Mikel Landa.

Carapaz responded to Landa in the final ascent, however Jai Hindley also stayed in the wheel and outsprinted Carapaz for four seconds at the line - time that is important for the British team who make the effort to control the race. “In the end there were not so many differences. We expected more. It has been a very hard day and there are more days to come. It is important to keep the leading mesh and continue in the dispute of the Giro. In the last climb we have been the three strongest," Carapaz added.

“This Giro is being quite hard and close. Landa put his team to work and it was good. Hindley also held. The overall is going to be decided in minimal details," he concluded. Tomorrow will be another very complicated stage with a finale in Lavarone, where Carapaz' lead will be put to the test once again.