Peter Kennaugh of Team Sky continued the good streak by Team Sky taking the third consecutive victory in the race. Kennaugh has taken the overall lead of the race ahead of Francesco Bongiorno (Bardiani) and Matteo Rabottini (Yellow Fluo). Here are more reactions:

Jarlinson Pantano who is 5th in the GC +00:52:

“It was an extremely tough stage – Pantano said afterwards – the steep gradients made a number of victims since the early going, but I had very good feelings, and that’s good news also in a Giro d’Italia perspective. For the GC, the gaps behind Kennaugh aren’t huge, so I hope to be able to gain some positions in Sunday’s uphill TT.”

Colombia DS Oscar Pellicioli whose best rider in the GC is Jarlison Pantano (5th +00:52):

“Pantano was very strong today, and he is enjoying a really good stretch in a time of the season in which he experienced some bad moments in the past. Rubiano was doing pretty well too, but he lost some metres and he almost made it back to the leaders with a solo move. It was a pretty good performance by the team as a whole, and I expect them to join forces tomorrow to set up Edwin Avila’s sprint.”

MTN-Qhubeka DS Manel Lacambra whose best rider in the GC is Louis Meintjes (29th +03:34):

“I am happy with how the team raced today. We were in all the early breaks and finally around the km 40, Jacques went with the good one. He tried to win the mountain jersey and we just missed out on a technicality. He did an excellent race and was the last men to be caught from the break. Team Sky caught him just 2km from the top of the mountain that would have given him the jersey as a certainty. At the final our young climbers did all they can.”

”We still need to remember that this is a young team from Africa and today was the third race for them in Europe this year. This may sound crazy but yesterday was the first TTT ever for Merhawi Kudus.”

”I love the attitude of this riders and I am happy with them. They are racing well and this is the first step. If we continue like this the good results will come for sure.”

”Tomorrow is a sprinters day and we can’t do much with the roster we have here. We will try to focus on the last hard TT and see what we can do there.”

Team Novo Nordisk General Manager Vassili Davidenko whose best rider in the GC is Charles Planet (87th +22:01):

“Planet showed his growth and overall potential in today’s race. He is still finding his form and adjusting to racing on the road, but today’s race made me eager to see what he’ll be capable of later this season.”