Giro sensation Narváez takes the purple jersey, but knows that it is not a done deal

Jhonatan Narváez has taken the purple points jersey back from Paul Magnier. The Ecuadorian of UAE Team Emirates-XRG made the day’s breakaway again in stage 17 and took maximum points at the intermediate sprint. Magnier is still close enough, however, that nothing is settled yet ahead of the final stage in Rome.

Narváez is without doubt the sensation of this Giro d'Italia, with three stage wins already and now the chase for the points classification too. The puncheur was in the break for the sixth time in this Giro, and after being in contention for the win in stages 8 and 11, the intermediate-sprint points were the maximum available this time.

"It was not easy, I think I wasted a bit too much energy in the first hour," Narváez analysed after the stage. "In the end we are happy with the performance," he said, smiling in his purple jersey. Narváez now leads Magnier of Soudal Quick-Step by 12 points, with four stages left to race.

The fact that Narváez did not ultimately fight for the stage win was still something of a surprise, even to him. "I think the strongest riders were ultimately among the chasers. Enric Mas, Giulio Ciccone... We missed the decisive move, though," he said with a smile, knowing that his Giro with a hat-trick of stage wins is already a huge success.

"Today was a success, because we picked up points and with that the jersey," he concluded. Knowing that Magnier can still score heavily on the final day in Rome, both in the intermediate sprint and the bunch sprint, Narváez still has work to do in the remaining stages.

"We are taking it day by day now, because the stage in Rome on Sunday is important," he said.