Albanese, another Top 10. Bais stays in blue.
This is the Giro of breakaways: the one that rewards the courage of the attackers, that listens to the prayers of those who get up in the morning and dream of the feat of a lifetime. And even today, in the “mountain stage in the city” with the arrival in Bergamo after much climbing, it was courage that won. In fact, Brandon McNulty triumphed in a sprint over Healy and Frigo, survivors of the group that had attacked at the beginning of the stage and of which our Gavazzi and Albanese were also part. And it was Vincenzo himself, back from a few difficult days due to some ailments, who was splendid in centering a 9th place that gives yet another Top10 for EOLO KOMETA in this Giro so far for us wonderful. Behind, in the pink jersey group, Fortunato warmed up his legs with an attack in the finale ahead of the next mountains while Davide Bais kept the blue jersey. Tomorrow, rest day: we need it, in view of the many climbs that will come in the last week. But let’s see how it went.
The day’s action formed after 30 km, with a group of 15 riders with EOLO KOMETA represented by Gavazzi and Albanese, with the peloton letting it go and the lead rising to over 7 minutes. On the first KOM Ben Healy passes over Rubio, while the next climbs (Selvino, Miragolo) begin to claim their first victims: raise the white flag for Dainese, Marcellusi, and then it is our Gava who breaks away while Albanese holds on. On the Valpiana our Vincenzo loses contact with the first ones, while Frigo and McNulty attack followed by Ben Healy who catches up with them and tries to leave alone but the next descent recomposes the trio that then goes to play for the victory in the sprint. Armirail retains the pink jersey.
Vincenzo Albanese: “After a few days of flu, since yesterday I felt good feelings again. Today was not the right stage for me, it was very hard, but I wanted to try and I took a ninth place that I think is really good. Now I am very tired, tomorrow the rest day will be important and then I will give everything in the last week-I am very, very confident.”
Davide Bais: “At the beginning I tried to go in the breakaway but the legs were not the best, but I am very happy that in the breakaway went Gavazzi and Albanese who then managed to finish 9th. Now the blue jersey classification sees many pretenders and they are all very strong riders, tomorrow I will try to rest and on Tuesday I will give everything”
Stefano Zanatta: “Also today we started quickly, Gavazzi and Albanese were good at getting into a breakaway with very strong riders. On the last climbs our guys gave up but we managed to hit another top10 and keep the blue jersey with Bais. Now we will make the most of the rest day, then we will focus on the last week where we will still try to have fun.”
