The Giro of the Bais: yesterday David’s victory, today Mattia’s breakaway
Seeing two brothers race in a group is not something that happens every day. Even more rare to see them on the same team. The story becomes even more unique if the two brothers are protagonists at a race like the Giro d’Italia, one day after another.
We still have in our eyes and hearts – and will have them for a long, long time to come – the marvelous victory of Davide Bais, who yesterday achieved the most beautiful dream of a lifetime. Today, his brother Mattia wanted to hold the family name high and went on the attack in the breakaway that characterized the day: the victory did not come, but Mattia was great in animating a stage that also gave the first shakes in the general classification with Roglic attacking putting Evenepoel and the pink jersey in trouble, and he hit the sixth place finish. That’s right: another top 10 for EOLO KOMETA in this crazy start to the Giro, enhanced by the confirmation of Davide Bais who defended his climbers’ blue jersey.
In the end, Ben Healy (Education First), who was part of the breakaway with Mattia Bais and was brave to go off on his own when there were 50 kilometers to go and hang on to the finish: chapeau. Behind him Derek Gee (Israel Premier Tech) and Filippo Zana (Jayco AlUla). The breakaway had gone away in three different moments: after 13 km Paret-Peintre (Ag2r Citroen), Gee (Israel Premier Tech), Healy (EF) and Verona (Movistar) had sprinted. At km 47 Skujins (Trek Segafredo) had joined them while after 20 km here also left the group Tonelli (Green Project Bardiani Csf Faizanè), Zana (Jayco AlUla), Bidard (Cofidis), Battistella (Astana) and Iacchi (Corratec Selle Italia) with our Mattia Bais. The small group got along, increasing the lead, until the decisive action of Ben Healey went away on the first passage of the Cappuccini climb. Mattia Bais held on until the second passage on the very hard climb, when he broke away.
Tomorrow, the highly anticipated Cesena time trial that will certainly change the overall standings.
Mattia Bais: “I tried, I gave everything but my legs were missing on the last climb and maybe I wasted some energy at the beginning to catch the breakaway. I really gave everything I had, though. The day yesterday was beautiful, we celebrated with the team the victory of my brother Davide and it was a very strong emotion. The discussion with Zana? My legs were missing on the climb, I had a moment of crisis and missed a change: that’s all…”
Davide Bais: “We tried again today, too bad my brother couldn’t win-it would have been a beautiful story, it would have been historic. He was very good though, he hit a beautiful finish. For me it was a beautiful day, so many people came to congratulate me, and these are things that give so much pleasure and morale. Now the goal is to go on the attack in the stages with many KOMs to defend the jersey, and then we’ll see: for sure, wearing it is a great feeling.”
Stefano Zanatta: “We continue our Giro in a great way, also today the guys were good and focused: for 70 km there was a tussle to take away the breakaway, first Fortunato and then Gavazzi and Fetter tried until the group left with Mattia. The finale was very challenging and he did very well to stay with a group of very strong riders and bring home a sixth place finish that is of enormous value. Another positive day for us, tomorrow there is the time trial and we know that it is not our terrain: but from Tuesday we will start again great with our usual spirit.”
