COL DU GALIBIER, France (AP) — A superb solo ride up the grueling Col du Galibier gave Giovanni Visconti the victory in a weather-affected 15th stage of the Giro d’Italia on Sunday, while favorite Vincenzo Nibali retained the overall lead.
Atrocious weather conditions once again altered the race course and heavy snow fell at the finish as Visconti won in a time of 4 hours, 40 minutes, 52 seconds, beating Carlos Betancur and Przemyslaw Niemiec by 42 seconds.
Nibali, who finished third and second in his two previous Giro d’Italia races, maintained his 1:26 lead over Cadel Evans.
Saturday’s leg was changed because of avalanche threats and Sunday’s leg was also affected by the sub-zero temperatures, with the final 2.7 miles up the famous Galibier removed.
The stage instead finished at the monument to deceased Italian cyclist Marco Pantani.
