Deignan loses time on Giro but is content with placing

Letterkenny’s Philip Deignan dropped down the general classification on Wednesday’s stage 5 of the Giro d’Italia.
Philip who was held up by a crash eighteen kilometres from the stage end crossed the line in a group of riders over nine minutes down on the stage winner Diego Ulissi.
The Team Sky rider is content with his placing as it reflects his pre-race plan of losing time on the first two weeks in an effort to ride himself into the race after an injury hit start to the season.
If he is seen to be out of contention later in the tour he may be allowed to have a solo crack during the latter part of the race which is tough and difficult mountain terrain.
Ahead of today’s 6th stage Ireland’s Nicolas Roche is in 7th place overall, 37 seconds behind leader Michael Matthews.