Rivi’s day on the breakaway. And now, the Zoncolan…

Giro d’Italia 2021
Stage 13: Ravenna – Verona (198 km)

A quiet stage, as everyone predicted. Flat, smooth as a billiard table: good for catching your breath in view of the next efforts (starting tomorrow, with “his majesty” the Zoncolan), good for the sprinters.

Quiet for everyone, but not for Samuele Rivi: who decided to make it special, for him and for the EOLO-KOMETA. Yes: 190 km of escape with his two companions, more than two hours live on TV, a day (again) as protagonists. The breakaway started immediately, practically at km 0, and went on until 10 km from the finish. Any hope of finishing? None, never: but being in a breakaway at the Giro d’Italia is something incredibly unique. The stage then ended in a sprint, with the victory of Nizzolo and our Albanese who came close to the “Top 10” (13th at the end). And everyone’s thoughts, as is normal, go to tomorrow’s stage.

The Zoncolan, in fact. The mountain that has made cycling history, and that in 2010 saw the extraordinary feat of Ivan Basso, capable of triumphing on its summit to take the Giro d’Italia. Tomorrow the protagonists will be different, and Ivan will live the stage from the flagship: but we’re sure he’ll find a moment to remember and, who knows, to be a little moved…

Samuele Rivi: “Today I wanted to go in the breakaway, because in a breakaway you are always better even if you are more tired: there is no stress and nervousness of the group, you pedal freely. In fact I enjoyed it, even though I knew very well that the group would never let us get there. But it was nice, and I think it was also good for the team, which once again showed itself. At the end, when the group was about to catch us, I even wanted to try a sprint to stay on my own for a while but I saw that they all came after me immediately and I let it go. Now come some really tough days: I want to get to Milan”.

[   PhotoGomezSport]