Team Bahrain Victorious (Italy) - Press Release: Bahrain Victorious conquered the epic Tre Cime di Lavaredo, as Santiago Buitrago soloed to victory from the day’s breakaway on the Queen stage of the Giro d’Italia, beating Derek Gee (IPT) and Magnus Cort Nielsen (EF).

Stage 19 Longarone-Tre Cime di Lavaredo was a gruelling one, with the peloton tackling a typical Dolomite course of 183 km with more than 5000 m of elevation gain and featuring some classical Passes as Campolongo, Valparola, Giau and Tre Croci, before the brutal ramp to Tre Cime di Lavaredo (1st cat., 7.2 km at 7.6%).

The 23 years old Colombian climber joined the breakaway that went clear only after more than 1 hour of racing. The break started to explode on the Passo Giau, but it was on the following Passes where the day’s strongest riders, including Buitrago, made the decisive attacks to open the gap from their breakaway companions. In the finale, it was a duel between Derek Gee and the Bahrain Victorious rider, with the Canadian attacking first. Buitrago managed his energy very well in the last km, controlling his rival and with 1.5km to go, accelerating to catch and overwhelm him to take a memorable second victory at the Giro after his maiden success of last year in Lavarone.

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