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Jai Hindley (l.) Took the lead, Tao Geoghegan Hart (r.) Won the stage
Photo: LUCA ZENNARO / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock
At the Giro d'Italia, the closest final in the history of great cycling tours is about to begin.
The new overall leader Jai Hindley (Team Sunweb) and the runner-up Tao Geoghegan Hart (Team Ineos) are separated by just 0.86 seconds, but in the overall classification they both have the same time.
In the history of the Grand Tours - Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España and Tour de France - this has never happened before the final stage.
On Sunday the decision will be made on the 21st stage, an individual time trial from Cernusco sul Naviglio to Milan.
The close classification came about on the 20th stage at the mountain arrival in Sestriere.
The Australian Hindley took the overall leader's pink jersey from his Sunweb teammate Wilco Kelderman.
Hindley and the Briton Geoghegan Hart fought for the stage win at the head of the race by a large margin over Kelderman.
After 190 kilometers, Geoghegan Hart then prevailed in the finish sprint.
Due to the bonus seconds collected, the stage winner and Hindley are now at the same time down to the second.
Kelderman, who had only taken the lead on the queen's stage last Thursday, fell back to third place in the overall standings (+1: 32 minutes).
It is unlikely that Kelderman or fourth-placed Pello Bilbao (+2: 51) can still race for the Giro victory on Sunday.
The final time trial is only 15.7 kilometers long, long time gaps are unlikely there.
A duel is expected between Hindley and Geoghegan Hart, two outsiders who originally only traveled to the Giro as helpers.
The favorite in the time trial is Geoghegan Hart, the discipline suits him better.
There could be a record on Sunday
"Unbelievable, I have no words. From an early age I dreamed of wearing the Maglia Rosa," said Hindley after taking the lead: "Tomorrow I will do my best in the individual time trial."
But so is Geoghegan Hart.
"Tomorrow's time trial will be a question of the legs, the distance is short, I hope for a good day and a little luck," he said.
A record could be set on Sunday.
In 1984 the Frenchman Eric Caritoux won the Vuelta by six seconds over Alberto Fernandez.
This number could now be undercut.
Hart and Hindley have not finished in the top 15 in any of the three major country tours, and the Giro victory would be their greatest career success so far.
Geraint Thomas (fall), Simon Yates and Steven Kruijswijk (both positive Corona test), who originally started as favorites, have already been eliminated.
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ptz / dpa / sid / Reuters