Fernando Tercero, in the fight for the Giro del Belvedere: eighth position at the finish line for the rider from La Mancha
83º Giro del Belvedere
Villa di Villa – Villa di Villa (166,2 km)
Fernando Tercero, from La Mancha, once again put in a great performance in the Italian calendar after finishing eighth this Easter Monday in a new edition of the Giro del Belvedere. Both Tercero and Davide Piganzoli arrived at the last and decisive ascent to Montaner within the group of chosen ones, less than twenty cyclists, who would fight for the victory.
On that final climb to Montaner, the Italian Bortolucchi, the last of the eight riders in a breakaway that had a lead of more than three minutes and that rowed in the lead for many kilometres, took the lead. His advantage was diminishing and the very fast pace of the race behind him predicted a quick neutralisation.
#GirodelBelvedere. Se acercan los últimos 40 kilómetros de carrera, donde entra en escena la subida a Montaner en dos ocasiones. Ocho hombre se mantienen al frente con menos de tres minutos. #EOLOKOMETACyclingTeam #EquipoSub23 pic.twitter.com/tQ4N6TzcOt
— FundContadorTeam (@FundContaTeam) April 18, 2022
This came from the Frenchman Romain Grégoire, who had just won the Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 on Saturday and took silver at the last junior world championships. The Frenchman accelerated and got a small advantage that was enough to win the race with a few seconds over the Italian Federico Guzzo, first pursuer, and the Norwegian Per Strand Hagenes, world junior champion, who left behind the Colombian Germán Gómez Becerra.
Third, meanwhile, came in a chasing sextet that regrouped in the dizzying final descent and the last flat stretch, where they caught the Colombian. A little further back, Davide Piganzoli crossed the finish line 13º. A World Cup on a scale in the Villa di Villa in which Rafa Díaz Justo and Dario Andriotto’s boys were the protagonists.
Fernando Tercero: “We have once again achieved a very good result in such a demanding race as this Giro del Belvedere. Although we always want to win or get on the podium, we must also value this eighth place because of the high level of the race. Personally I felt good, my team-mates helped me a lot throughout the day and on the decisive climb Piga’s support was fundamental. Another experience for the legs. Now it’s time to rest and this Tuesday we have a new opportunity in Palio del Reciotto”.
Rafa Díaz Justo: “We knew that Grégorie was one of the favourites for the final victory, especially after his performance in the last Liège. He was one of the riders to whom this route suited him very well. The fact that the breakaway made it onto the final circuit and onto the last climb could have brought a bit of uncertainty to the race, but the peloton started to ride very fast; in fact, the first climb made a huge sieve, and the lead was reduced very quickly. For our part, a performance to be happy with in front of the international elite of the category and in a race that is not so easy to interpret, with double presence of Fernando and Davide at the important moment”.
[📷 @Photors.it / Giro del Belvedere (1, 3)]
