Tirreno Adriatico 5th stage, when the going gets tough Piganzoli hangs on with the best

The fifth stage of the Tirreno Adriatico, culminating in the Gran Sasso National Park, was the one where the battle for the general classification began. As expected, the challenging San Giacomo KOM and the subsequent ascent to Valle Castellana brought out the best in the group, with Jonas Vingegaard calling the shots and also taking the green jersey from Davide Bais.

However Team Polti Kometa showed a reaction and Davide Piganzoli remained in the main peloton: the Valtellina rider finished in the top-20 and is now 22nd in the GC 3’44” behind the Danish leader.

“We took the climb from the front and, in the fray, I managed to stay with the second chasing group,” Piganzoli said immediately after the finish line, holding his own in the first World Tour stage race of his life. “I feel good, but tomorrow I’ll really need my legs…”

This is how the sports director Stefano Zanatta put it: “It was a fast-paced day, with a very strong breakaway of ten riders that formed, and Visma Lease a Bike controlling the situation until their champion attacked just before San Giacomo. Well done, Piga! In the Mount Petrano queen stage, we’ll give it our all just like today.”