It seems as if there's no such thing as an easy stage in the Giro d'Italia.
Easy, of course, is a relative term when it comes to riding 214 kilometres at an average speed of 45kph, but after four straight energy-sapping stages, stage 12 looked to be a day where the general classification contenders could relax.
Maybe they did, and therein lay the problem, or perhaps the pouring rain near the finish played a significant factor. Either way, it left a group of contenders suddenly in strife, and requiring to tap into unexpected resources to stay in touch with the peloton.
That included George Bennett who, with 30 kilometres to go, found himself separated from the main group as rain and wind lashed the peloton. He, as well as the likes of Richard Carapaz, Miguel Angel Lopez and Domenico Pozzovivo, quickly found themselves 30 seconds in arrears, and having to fight to avoid losing time.
It took them a 10 kilometre battle to do so, and just as they rejoined, the bunch hit a brief climb, with several riders launching attacks, including the man right behind Bennett on the overall standings, Rohan Dennis.
