BAROLO, Italy: Colombia’s Rigoberto Uran won stage 12 of the Giro d’Italia on Thursday, taking control of the leader’s pink jersey from Cadel Evans following a 41.9-kilometer time-trial.
While Omega Pharma-QuickStep rider Uran claimed his first individual time-trial success after posting a best time of 57min 34sec, Australian Evans endured a difficult day in the Piedmont vineyards, finishing third, 1min 34sec down on the Colombian, to relinquish the overall lead.
Italy’s Diego Ulissi was second, 1min 17sec adrift, in a rain-hit stage that saw Uran take a 37sec lead from Evans in the general classification.
An under the weather Nairo Quintana, one of the pre-race favorites, lost 2min 41sec to his fellow countryman Uran on the day, leaving him almost 3min 30sec off the pink jersey.
“I gave it my all right the way through but I found it difficult to breathe. I hope that things will get better,” said Quintana, who was complaining of a throat infection.
Polish cyclist Rafal Majka, who was fourth in Thursday’s time-trial, is third overall at 1:52 with climbing specialist Domenico Pozzovivo fourth at 2:32.
For Uran, 27, it represents the first time he’s put on the pink jersey.
The Colombian, silver medalist in the men’s road race at the 2012 London Olympics, finished second in last year’s Giro having initially started the race in support of Team Sky leader Bradley Wiggins, who abandoned the 2013 event after 12 stages.
Friday’s stage 13, a 157km ride from Fossano to Rivarolo, will provide sprinters with one final chance to impress before the race heads to the mountains.
Uran wins stage 12, takes over lead



