The perfect work by the Cannondale train seemed to come to nothing when four of their riders, including lead sprinter Elia Viviani, hit the deck with less than 2km to go in yesterday's slippery fifth stage of the Giro d'Italia. However, the Italian made a fabulous comeback to end the stage in fifth.

After a day for travel, the 2014 Giro d’Italia returned to home roads for the shortest road stage of the race. The riders departed Giovinazzo to ride to Bari, then do eight flat circuits around Bari. The race totaled 112km, but 64km were the circuit.

Cannondale Pro Cycling started the stage all-in for Elia Viviani. Not only has the Green Machine has proven a formidable leadout train, and Elia has been sprinting well,but the sprint rival who won the previous two stages, Giant-Shimano’s Marcel Kittel had abandoned the race due to illness.

What nobody expected was the Irish weather that followed the race to Italy. The rain came before the start and soaked roads that haven’t experienced rain in a long time. As any dedicated cyclist can tell you, the rain seeps into cracks and lifts up oils and other slippery stuff that has seeped into the road since the last rain, surface lubricants that only enhance the lubricating properties of water. On a narrow course with lots of turns, the risk of crashing multiplies. The racers know this only too well, and refused to race until they arrived on the finishing circuit. And even then the race organization spent a few laps discussing what to do with team captains, team directors, and race officials.

After considerable conversation while the racers didn’t stop riding, it was decided that time bonuses wouldn’t be awarded, and the race time would be taken at the start of the penultimate lap.

Decision made, Cannondale came to the front to set Viviani up for the first points sprint. Not only are the points valuable in pursuit of the red points jersey, but it also functions as a dress rehearsal for the final sprint. Cannondale kept the pace high, and Viviani had no trouble winning ten points on the line.

Word done, Cannondale gave up the front and let Orica-Greenedge control the pace for Michael Matthews, their guy in pink. While Orica kept the pace high, it wasn’t ballistic nor did anyone attack their train.

When the bell rung for the final lap, times were taken. Many riders, including Matthews faded behind the pack to save themselves for another day. Not Cannondale.

They went to the front to lead out Viviani. With three kilometers remaining, they were at the front when the rain returned. Behind them, riders slid out on a turn. Then, on a wide curve, Alan Marangoni slid out, and he was followed to the tarmac by Oscar Gatto, Daniele Ratto, and Viviani. Giant-Shimano took over the lead. Viviani, only bruised, got back up and chased. Out of the final corner, Giant’s sprinter, Luka Mezgec, felt his wheels slide, but he stayed upright. All the same, he paused, and lost the wheel of his leadout man. FDJ’s Nacer Bouhanni, riding behind Mezgec sprinted around him, and bounded away from everybody for the win. Viviani, recovering well, got fifth.

Disappointed with another close finish, but buoyed by moving into second in the points competition, Viviani accepted his fate.

“What a bad day! Bad luck played a key role and I have few things to be disappointed. The first is the result – it was a great chance and we were preparing the sprint in the best way. We were leading the peloton while, due to the wet and slippery road, we all went down. I got up immediately and tried to join the lead riders but I was able only to catch on at the last moment and not to do my sprint.

"Second thing to be disappointed, the pain I suffer to my left hip. The risk is part of our job and today I can just be angry with the bad luck.”

The fifth stage is a 203km aunt from Taranto to Viggiano. The intermediate sprint comes early, then it’s time for the race to start going vertical. There are three categorized climbs on route, finishing atop the third. Cannondale will have a two-prong approach, set up Viviani early, then make sure Ivan Basso is in position when the race explodes on the final climb.