Sergio García, among the first twenty of the Giro Baby after standing out in the terrible Mortirolo
42º Giro d´Italia Giovani Under 23
Stage 6: Aprica – Aprica (94.3 km)
Sergio García from Cadiz climbed this Thursday to the nineteenth place in the provisional general classification of the Giro Baby after a fabulous performance in the dreaded and mediatic day in which the riders had to face the Mortirolo on two occasions. Passo di Foppa, first because of Edolo’s more human side, then because of the asphalted hell that ascends from Mazzo di Valtellina, both in a day of variable time where the hail broke out, once again witnessed a great new day for the Colombian riders, three cyclists of this nationality among the first four. In Aprica Juan Diego Alba (Colombian National Team) won, Andrés Camilo Ardila (Colombian National Team) reinforced his leadership even more and in his streets the Andalusian García finished an outstanding 23rd place, 7:32 from the winner, which allows him to climb six positions in the general classification.
“The truth is that the climb, especially the second, I did it at my own pace, without looking at anyone. It was undoubtedly the best thing I could do. In the final part I squeezed as much as I could, as if the finish line was on top, to try to catch two other riders and be able to go together to relays in the back terrain until the finish. The climb was a matter of survival. Each one went at his own pace. Little by little I was able to catch and surpass runners. Once I was crowned it was a question of going all the way to the end”, explains Sergio García about his career in this sixth stage of the U23 Giro d’Italia. “I felt very good. In the first step I managed to be in the top ten of my group, although they had gone a bit because in the last kilometre of the climb I wanted to get water and food”.
With damages on his body by the discomfort of his crash of the previous day, Carlos García lost eleven positions in the provisional general classification and fell to his 39th position after leaving more than 25 minutes in Aprica. “It has been a very difficult day because all the blows of the fall have left me very touched. I was very uncomfortable on the bike, with bad sensations, and with my body bursting. Let’s see if I can recover a little for what’s to come in this Giro”, said the Spaniard. Edu Pérez-Landaluce finished the sixth stage in the 49th position, at 16:06 from Juan Diego Alba. The Colombian Jhon Stiven Ramírez showed a great improvement in his terrain and left 18:37 to finish 58th. Arturo Grávalos finished 107th, at 28:03.
The day had a very special beginning for the Kometa Cycling Team under 23, since the formation received the visit of the children who are part of the Italian Kometa Cycling Academy.
Rafa Diaz Justo, director of the Kometa Cycling Team: “The day has left us the improvement of Jhon Stiven, the sorrow of Carlos’ problems and a Sergio who has been spectacular from beginning to end. It is clear that in front of him there are eighteen riders of which fourteen are professionals, very good climbers. The second climb to Mortirolo was a spectacle. He came cut, he caught Elosegui almost at the top and from the top to the finish line they took small groups. Tomorrow I don’t think anything will happen in the general classification, although it will be complex for a final circuit where there is no lack of a small climb, but there are still two complicated stages. Saturday is a difficult stage and Sunday is a final in a complicated and mythical pass like La Marmolada”.
This Friday, the seventh and penultimate stage proposes 137.1 kilometres of truce between Dimaro Folgarida and Levico Terme. A stage in which the adventurers and sprinters can have their great opportunity again after three days of great orographic exigency.
(automatic translation, sorry for mistakes)
📸 Andrew Peat
