Piganzoli and Tercero among the ‘nobles’ in the queen stage; Davide, first Italian overall in the Giro U23
Giro d’Italia U23
Stage 3: Pinzolo – Santa Caterina Valfurga (177,1 km)
Leo Hayter consolidated his lead in the Giro U23 after a day of extreme cycling, more than five hours on the bike in this category are not usual, in the great and early mountain stage of this edition. A day with more than 4,000 metres of accumulated elevation gain in which both Fernando Tercero, initial scare for him with a fall in the first two kilometres fortunately without consequences, and Davide Piganzoli had a great performance, finishing in the top fourteen. Piga became the first Italian in the overall and, therefore, the leader of this secondary classification.
#GiroGiovani2022. Llegada de Fernando Tercero a la meta, en torno al puesto 12/13. Sensacional etapa del manchego, quien este lunes se vio envuelto en una caída en el arranque del día.
[📽️ @giroditaliau23] #EOLOKOMETACyclingTeam #EOK22Dream #EquipoSub23 #GirodItaliaU23 #Etapa3 pic.twitter.com/EvMNTZ5CGJ— FundContadorTeam (@FundContaTeam) June 13, 2022
Between Pinzolo and Santa Caterina Valfurva, four major orographic difficulties of different types. In front, by numbers, the penultimate of them all: the Passo di Guspessa and its ten kilometres at more than 11% average as a hot spot before the long and long final climb. The breakaway of the day, led by four riders, ended up at the base of the climb. And it was there that Frenchman Lenny Martinez made his move, a move that dynamited the race. Davide Piganzoli rode in the chasing group of Martinez, where the leader was. Third, a little further back, was close behind.
Martinez would reach the Mortirolo with more than two minutes of margin over the first chasers. On the descent and the stretch that followed, the race was being rewritten with Hayter starting to make up time. On the false flat towards the more proper climb to Santa Caterina Valfurva Hayter caught up with Martinez, overtook him and with about 20 kilometres to go went solo to win the stage with almost five minutes advantage.
#GiroGiovani2022. @DavidePiganzoli llegó a la meta inmediatamente después de Fernando Tercero. El primer italiano en la etapa, primero en la general de los nacionales.
[📽️ @giroditaliau23] #EOLOKOMETACyclingTeam #EOK22Dream #EquipoSub23 #GirodItaliaU23 #Etapa3 pic.twitter.com/9PyMEh73cz— FundContadorTeam (@FundContaTeam) June 13, 2022
Fernando Tercero and Davide Piganzoli were always in a second chasing group of eight, three minutes further back. On the final climb this group also fell apart amidst several accelerations. Third crossed the finish line in 13th place, 7’10” behind the winner and Piganzoli, the first Italian, was 14th, 7’56 behind. Marcel Camprubí finished 13’45” behind in 24th place: “I’m very happy with the way things went. It was a very tough stage. Now it’s time to rest a little on the efforts of the day, this continues and many things can still happen in the race. We’ll see what happens in a few days in the Fauniera”, said Piganzoli after the podium.
Hot on Sunday. Heavy rain at times at some point on Monday. This Tuesday the Corsa Rosa U23 faces a 101.1 kilometre stage between Chiuro and Chiavenna. Leo Hayter will start as race leader, with a 5’48” lead over second-placed Frenchman Romain Gregoire. Fernando Tercero is thirteenth overall, 8’29” behind, while Davide Piganzoli is fourteenth, 8’55” behind. In the top twenty is Marcel Camprubí, 19th at 14’44”.
