Albanese, what a pity. Molano mocks him at the finish line

25° Giro di Sicilia
Stage 1: Avola – Modica (179 km)

What a pity, what a pity, what a pity. For a handful of meters, for a breath, for an instant. A great Vincenzo Albanese has nearly won the first stage of the Giro di Sicilia, mocked on the line by the Colombian Molano, mocked after a brave and splendid sprint started at one kilometer from the end. Still a second place for our rider, that at the end of the stage has worn the jersey of leader of the young classification and has taken all the applauses of the square of Modica that has recognized him the deserved tribute.

“I knew – said Vincenzo Albanese – that at 600 meters from the end there was a sharp curve and that it would be important to take it in front and then shoot full throttle. We were good to be in the first positions and I tried, at 200 meters from the end I turned and thought I could make it. It’s a pity, UAE is a great team and Molano is very fast: it’s a pity for the umpteenth podium of this season and for this victory that doesn’t want to arrive. I have a great leg and I will try again, starting from tomorrow: to say the truth I didn’t think I could try to win today, I was thinking more to tomorrow’s stage… I’m anyway happy, because being there to play is always a great thing. I’m not angry, you get angry when you fall and hurt yourself, not when you come close to winning. I’ll keep looking for it, and it will come sooner or later”.

In addition to Albanese’s white jersey, Manuel Belletti’s excellent eighth place was also worth mentioning.

Tomorrow, therefore: 173 kilometers from Selinunte to Mondello. A stage that once again the EOLO-KOMETA will try to run as protagonist. With Albanese? Who knows: for sure, this guy would deserve it. A lot.

[   LaPresse (1),  Maurizio Borserini (2)]