That is the case. He really had to have a reason to step-off whilst wearing one of the race jerseys (Maglia Ciclamino) which is generally seen as ‘bad form’. However, he was so far in front that he wasn’t going to lose it at the end of Stage 8 and Stage 9 (today) is enough to induce knee issues in any sprinter. So it made sense to stop, two stage wins: job done.
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New territory. Strade Bianchi / sterrato (white roads / gravel track) with a mountain top finish to a ski station. I think that this link shows where they turn onto the gravel track and this link shows a photo of the finish line area. I think you can see the ski station in the distance from the street view.
They also need to go through an uphill tunnel (about 2km long I think) just before they turn onto the gravel.
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Vincenzo Nibali had some bad luck yesterday, first a puncture, then followed by a crash, no serous injuries just cuts and bruises.
Nibali’s form is in some doubt due to an earlier in the year training ride crash which fractured a radius bone, the injury required surgery, and the 36-year-old is wearing a carbon brace to support it during the race.
It would appear he has promoted himself to super-domestique and will be supported his Trek-Segafredo team-mate Giulio Ciccone on today’s Stage 9.
Ciccone has impressed with his attacking in the opening week, and sits further up the GC than Nibali in seventh place, just 41 seconds off the overall lead 
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And Ciccone looked very good today (2nd in the stage and now 4th overall)
But Egan Bernal, as in all stages, looked smooth and in control. Emotional interview with him post-stage: he shows a remarkable amount of self-doubt given what an incredible rider he is - the problems last year had a major impact.
I hadn’t really clocked that he has never won a Grand Tour stage before. The key stage in his 2019 Tour de France victory was abandoned due to landslips and there was no official winner, only time gaps that put him in the lead.
And of course he goes into the lead of the young riders competition as well, still only 24.
in fact the top 3 in the ‘best young rider’ are also the top 3 in the overall. Traditionally Grand Tours were for older riders with more stamina and experience - not any more it seems.
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Bernal is back! Slightly reminiscent of MVDP’s hammer drop at Strade Bianche earlier this year. Just hope Egan’s back is 100%. Impressive performance and touching/respectful victory interview. Well deserved - he appears to have sacrificed a lot on his clawback to World Tour GC fitness and this clearly came through in the interview. Nice work!
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I read that there were serious concerns his back problems could end his career so no suprise he is emotional on winning today. Looks like the hot favourite now I would imagine. L
I dont think Ineos intend him riding the TdF to ensure no relapse as he gets back to full fitness. He is only 24!
In other cycling news Tom Pidcock is the first British winner of an elite MTB race since 1994. Looks like a bit of a prospect on the road too.
Bruce
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Indeed, we have a new generation of very exciting riders that are re-writing the rule book!
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That’s great news for Tom. It’s amazing how many of the new up and coming GC contenders have a solid background in other bike disciplines esp. MTB and CX. In fact I learnt today that Bernal is pretty handy on a mountain bike. Regarding Tom, watching Amstel Gold this year I was convinced Tom beat Wout on the line but alas the photo finish proved otherwise. Tom has great racecraft and is learning loads from riding with the likes of older riders like MVDP and Van Aert. I did think his smaller size may put him at a slight disadvantage to these powerful guys but clearly not this year and only a matter of time before he makes regular podium places in the World Tour, given he’s just 21 years of age!
STAGE 9 RESULTS
- Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, 4-08-23
- Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 7s
- Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Astana-Premier Tech, at same time
- Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, at 10s
- Dan Martin (Irl) Israel Start-Up Nation, at same time
- Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain Victorious, at 12s
- Romain Bardet (Fra) Team DSM
- Marc Soler (Esp) Movistar
- Daniel Martínez (Col) Ineos Grenadiers
- João Almeida (Por) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, all at same time
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GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 9
- Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, in 35-19-22
- Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, at 15s
- Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Astana-Premier Tech, at 21s
- Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 36s
- Attila Valter (Hun) Groupama-FDJ, at 43s
- Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Education-Nippo, at 44s
- Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain Victorious, at 51s
- Dan Martin (Irl) Israel Start-Up Nation
- Simon Yates (GBr) Team BikeExchange, at 55s
- Davide Formolo (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, at 1-01
Rest of the race favourites in the GC
11 Dani Martínez (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1-12
12 Marc Soler (Esp) Movistar Team, at 1-20
13 Romain Bardet (Fra) Team DSM, at same time
16. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 2-12
21. Pello Bilbao (Esp) Bahrain Victorious, at 3-26
22. Jai Hindley (Aus) Team DSM, at 4-27
23. João Almeida (Por) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, at 4-55
29. George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-Visma, at 8-55
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POINTS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 9
- Tim Merlier (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix, at 83pts
- Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Team Qhubeka-Assos, at 76pts
- Elia Viviani (Ita) Cofidis, at 69pts
- Davide Cimolai (Ita) Israel Start-Up Nation, at 66pts
- Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 57pts
MOUNTAIN CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 9
- Geoffrey Bouchard (Fra) Ag2r-Citroën Team, at 51pts
- Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, at 48pts
- Gino Mäder (Sui) Bahrain Victorious, at 44pts
YOUTH CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 9
- Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, in 35-19-22
- Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, at 15s
- Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Astana-Premier Tech, at 21s
TEAM CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 9
- Ineos Grenadiers, in 106-01-14
- Team BikeExchange, at 3-26
- Trek-Segafredo, at 5-47
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Ciccone is yet to win a grand tour stage, and this is the second time he has finished 2nd, the other time being stage six of 2019 TdF which incidentally was also a steep gravel finish, however he did get to wear the maillot jaune for a couple of days.
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Mohoric apparently has concussion and poly trauma but is in the team hotel but not hospital. It was a terrifying accident.
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Stage 10 L’Aquila to Foligno (139km)
Monday’s short and fast course will suit the sprinters.
The win has Peter Sagan’s name all over it - if only he can be in the break going over the Valico Della Somma 
There will be a lot of have a go fast effort due to the Rest Day on Tuesday.
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That was horrible to see, hope he is okay.
Bahrain Victorious are now two good men down.
Scary to watch. Ever so lucky with the angle he came down - could have been much, much worse.
One hell of a thump - completely sheared off the front forks of what I assume is Merida’s chunky aero bike - the Reacto. Glad to hear he’s (relatively) ok, as he had nowhere to go with that highsider.
Brake hose must have also snapped or been ripped out of the calliper😬
Must have - when it came to rest, the front end was a metre or so apart from the rest of the frame - must have been some hell of a force for a clean snap. Glad Mohoric came off (relatively) best, the bike can be (easily) replaced.
You are right, for his small size he (Tom Pidcock) shows incredible power and has a surprisingly strong sprint. In road cycling he may possibly be the first GB rider since Tommy Simpson who can compete with the very best in the Classics and Monument races.
He is on a mission to get the GB qualification place in the Olympics MTB event. Given he has gone from the back row to the front row of the starting grid after just one event that doesn’t seem in doubt - the only issue is if GB are ranked high enough to get a national qualification spot (top 30 I think).
He will also likely represent GB in the Olympic Road Race!
btw His younger brother Joe is meant to be a decent rider too and rides for the Groupama-FDJ Development team.
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@Debs You called it today. Bora did a textbook job over the Cat 4 dropping some key sprinters then keeping the pressure on to the line. Sagan finished it off impressively, re-paid all the work and took the Maglia Ciclamino into the rest day.
Also two weeks to go and GC guys sprinting for the odd second!
Looking forward to the big Strade Bianche stage on Wednesday. No Giro tomorrow though 
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STAGE 10 RESULTS
- Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe, in 3-10-56
- Fernando Gaviria (Col) UAE Team Emirates
- Davide Cimolai (Ita) Israel Start-Up Nation
- Stefano Oldani (Ita) Lotto-Soudal
- Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix
- Dries De Bondt (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix
- Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Ag2r-Citroën
- Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) Eolo-Kometa
- Elia Viviani (Ita) Cofidis
- Juan Sebastián Molano (Col) UAE Team Emirates, all at same time
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GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 10
- Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, in 38-30-17
- Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, at 14s
- Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Astana-Premier Tech, at 22s
- Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 37s
- Attila Valter (Hun) Groupama-FDJ, at 44s
- Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Education-Nippo, at 45s
- Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain Victorious, at 46s
- Dan Martin (Irl) Israel Start-Up Nation, at 52s
- Simon Yates (GBr) Team BikeExchange, at 56s
- Davide Formolo (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, at 1-02
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POINTS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 10
- Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe, 108 points
- Fernando Gaviria (Col) UAE Team Emirates, 91pts
- Davide Cimolai (Ita) Israel Start-Up Nation, 91pts
- Tim Merlier (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix, at 83pts
- Elia Viviani (Ita) Cofidis, at 79pts
- Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Team Qhubeka-Assos, at 76pts
- Matteo Moschetti (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 42pts
- Filippo Tagliani (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, at 39pts
- Filippo Fiorelli (Ita) Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè, at 39pts
- Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Jumbo-Visma, 36pts
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WHO’S OUT OF THE GIRO D’ITALIA 2021?
Stage 1 - none
Stage 2
Krists Neilands (Israel Start-Up Nation) DNS, broken collarbone
Stage 3 - none
Stage 4 - none
Stage 5
Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victrious) DNF after crash
Stage 6
Pavel Sivakov (Ineos Grenadiers), DNS due to shoulder injury after crash.
Joe Dombrowski (UAE) DNS due to concussion protocol after crash.
François Bidard (Ag2r) DNF due to broken collarbone after crash.
Manuel Belletti (EOLO-Kometa) DNF after crash
Stage 7
Domenico Pozzovivo (Qhubeka-Assos) DNS after crash
Stage 8
Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) DNF (knee pain)
Stage 9
Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious) DNF after crash
Stage 10 - none