The beauty around it. Then Maestri and Albanese.

Giro d’Italia
5th stage, Catania-Messina

Charm and beauty galore, the Giro does that: so much so that at times cycling and bicycles almost seem to act as a corollary. And how can you not think so, sitting on the ferry from Messina that takes the caravan to greet Sicily, with Italy using its best weapons to make itself loved. The sea and the wind, the contrast of the hills, the longing for open spaces, the mainland coming ever closer for a Giro that continues.

The Giro of the people, who on the Messina stage applauded Maestri’s breakaway (“How nice to be back on the attack in this race, two years after the last time”), which started immediately and held out until the GPM where it was our own Mirco who crossed the finish line first. Then, it was sprinters’ stuff: Demare triumphed, relegating Gaviria to another placing, with our Vincenzo Albanese jumping into the sprinters’ group to seize a fine 12th place.

Mirco Maestri: “We made a good attack, we hoped they would give us a little more space but it was clear right away that they were going to go all-out up the climb and come for us. I won the GPM which is a nice finish anyway and I think winning it is still a form of respect for the race. Tomorrow is another day, hopefully I will have some more space: for sure, I will attack again.”

Vincenzo Albanese: “Today the feelings were definitely better than yesterday, yesterday I was really bad. I tried to make the sprint the best I could even if I am not a sprinter suitable for these arrivals, but I try anyway also to get used to it so when I will be doing sprints with tighter ranks I will know how to move. But the important thing today is the sensations, which are back to being very good in view of tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and especially Naples.”

Maurizio Borserini / Sprint Cycling