Samuel Novak and Dario Giuliano close to the victory in Bidasoa
The Bidasoa Itzulia started from Irun with a 134-kilometre route. A heavy downpour in the middle of the stage and a very narrow road complicated a day in which the team was able to shine. On the final climb to Ibardingo Lepoa, Samuel Novak finished third and Dario Giuliano fourth.
The stage started from Irun with a strong favourable wind up to the town of Amaiur where the return to the starting point would begin. A heavy downpour and even hail in the area with the narrowest road caused the peloton to break into two large groups. Our guys stayed in the first group responding to the constant attacks at the front of the race.
Towards the end of the stage and after more than two hours at an average speed of 46km/h, some riders began to give up. Our guys overcame the two ascents to Piedad (3rd) and worked to catch the breakaway that had formed on these climbs. In the last kilometres, with the peloton compact and in the middle of the climb to the pass where the finish line was located, both Samuel Novak and Dario Giuliano were riding in the front positions of a group at high speed.
The last metres were the most demanding and Samuel Novak finished third and Dario Giuliano fourth, who suffered a fall and a mechanical problem that made him climb with the big chainring of the bike.
Samuel Novak won the best U20 rider’s jersey, and gave his assessment of the stage result: “First stage done and dusted, the weather changes made the race more stressful with crashes and mechanical problems. We also had a crash of Dario and mine broken shifter and bike change. In the final, the guys did great work with catching the break and making position for me and Dario. I really want to thank everyone from the staff and teammates. We have 2 interesting stages ahead, where we try to do our best”.
Team director Rafael Díaz Justo assessed a very fast stage with a bike change for Samuel Novak: “We have been very good, with the team very active. The five riders who worked, both the twins Gabriele and Tommaso, Manuel, Balint and Raccagni are very good at the job and we went out with the idea of competing the stage with our strong men. We had a problem at the end of the race that we didn’t know about Dario’s fall and mechanical problem. Where he was, it would have been very difficult to change the bike. Although the mountain pass was a not that hard, that problem was a handicap with a very demanding final kilometre”.
