Double presence in the top 10 of the Giro U23: Fernando Tercero, eighth; Davide Piganzoli repeats tenth position
45º Giro d´Italia U23
Stage 7: Cuneo – Pinerolo (121 km)
The Giro U23 is over. The great stage race of the category came to an end on Saturday with a dizzying stage completed at over 46.5 km/h, which in its first hour was close to 50 km/h average.
The finish line, located on a cobbled slope with 20% gradients, witnessed the partial victory of Frenchman Romain Gregoire, with Fran Muñoz 14th, and the crowning in the final general classification of Briton Leo Hayter, final maglia rosa of a classification in which the EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team places two riders on the top 10: Fernando Tercero, eighth; Davide Piganzoli, repeating the place he achieved in the last edition, tenth. The blue structure, directed by Rafa Díaz Justo, has finished second in the general team classification, only behind Groupama-FDJ.
Fernando Tercero: “In general I’m quite happy because the level of this Giro has been very high. Every day has gone very fast, there has not been any quiet day and in the end, in the high mountain days, we have been there, being competitive. And we managed to finish second in the overall team standings, ahead of many WorldTour affiliates”.
Davide Piganzoli: “It has been a very intense week, with a lot of fatigue, with very hard moments. We tried to be as far ahead as possible in the overall and that’s why I really appreciate repeating the same position as in 2021. But this year is even more special because I was the first Italian rider in the final overall. To get on the podium is always nice, and to do it on the last day is a very nice experience. It’s time to keep working, there are some very nice goals ahead of us”.
Rafa Díaz Justo, director of the U23 team of the Fundación Contador: “We leave this edition of the Giro U23 very satisfied with our performance. Although, being ambitious, we came with the desire to fight to be present on the final podium, the circumstances of the race have not allowed us to make that leap. However, we finished with our two best climbers in the top ten against most of the best riders in the category and with two or three riders who are at another level. Piga repeated his tenth place from last year and Fernando, who was affected by a few crashes, has been going from strength to strength. Marcel had an impressive Giro, it was his first experience of this kind, as did Fran and Andrea, on whose backs a lot of dark work fell on behalf of their team-mates”.
