Great stage finale in Gran Sasso d’Italia for the three escapees after the 212 km breakaway!, particularly from km 6, but the outcome was disappointing if the leaders and favourites, who arrived 3’10” behind the winner, Davide Bais, from Eolo Kometa.
It was the first victory of his career for the 25-year-old cyclist, who lived all day in the lead with the Czech. Karel Vacek (Corratec), second, and also the Italian Simone Petelli (Interarché), third. Meanwhile, the Belgian Remco Evenepoel and the slovenian Roglic is a cousin they crossed the finish line three minutes and ten seconds later, fourth and fifth respectively.
In the last few meters Petilli and Bais were watching each other, they knew Vacek was not good, and the Intermarché man was the first to attack, and Bais quickly got out, leaving his two running companions stranded and getting a big success In alone. .
From the back, the peloton, where nobody attacked, there were no surprises and a group of about 25-30 riders ended up entering, where Pinot tried to score some points for the mountains.
The breakaway trio of Bais, Petilli and Vacek had a seven and a half minute lead over the field with 20km to go and showed no sign of slowing as the rest of the field played to catch up. As they pedaled relentlessly up the snow-walled roads on either side, Czech Vacek dismounted and looked out at the competition before putting his head down and retaking the two Italians in the final two kilometres. And with each other waiting to take the lead in the final kilometre, it was Bais who left his rivals behind and raced to the front in the final 200 meters to clinch the biggest victory of his career.
The ‘Maglia Rosa’, however, continues to belong to Team DSM’s Andreas Leknessund, which makes him the Norwegian who has worn it the most consecutive times (4), ahead of Knut Knudsen. It was a very quiet stage for the big favourites, which gave prominence to a Bais who touched the sky for the first time thanks to the last few meters where he drew strength from where he had none.
Capua-Gran Sasso d’Italia (Campo Imperatore) is one of the most difficult stages of this edition of the Giro in terms of mileage (218 km) and elevation gain (3,900 meters). The last 45 km is almost entirely uphill to the finish line, located at an altitude of 2,130 meters.
After the first 90 km, which ran along the roads of Isernia and Rionero Sannitico, then the stage faced the 2nd category that went up to Roccaraso, followed by a long descent that led to Sulmona and Popoli. After Bussi sul Tirino, the route faces a final climb (about 45 km), with several short sections uphill. The climb is divided into two parts (relevant for the Mountain classification): the first in Calascio (at 1,190 meters and a 2nd), and the second (shorter and steeper) to the finish line.
On ramps, steep in the last 7 km, the route reaches more than 2,000 m of altitude on a moderately wide road, with gradients of around 9% and a maximum of 13%. Since the Giro d’Italia first came to Campo Imperatore in 1971, with the stage victory of the Spaniard Vicente López-Carril and the pink jersey for Ugo Colombo, the Abruzzo finish line is traditionally included in the first part of Corsa rosa, the last of the 9th stage, like in 2018 (Simon Yates won), and for this reason he often presents one of the first head-to-head battles between the favorites.
In the Gran Sasso d’Italia, the riders are still quite fresh, with more questions than answers about their form and a burning desire to gain a few seconds, but at the same time the fear that deal with their cards too soon.
The Giro has reached Campo Imperatore four times, not counting the 14th stage of 1985 which ended at Fonte Cerreto, at the bottom of the climb, and which was won by Franco Chioccioli. The last time was in 2018 and that time the departure was from Pesco Sannita: the selection was less marked than in 1999 and the winner was Simon Yates with the Maglia Rosa (in the edition remembered for its rise and fall ), who was able to overcome Thibaut Pinot and his teammate Esteban Chaves in an uphill sprint. That stage showed the difficulties of Fabio Aru and Chris Froome, who lost a few seconds that he later recovered in an incredible way on the famous Colle delle Finestre stage.
But in my memory, of course, the eighth stage of the Corsa Rosa in 1999. Starting in Pescara and ending in a Campo Imperatore still covered in snow, it was no exception. On that day, everything was focused on Marco Pantani, who made history last year by winning the Giro and the Tour. Everyone is waiting for him in the first serial upload of that edition.
Although said to be far from his best form, the man from Cesenatico tried everything with a series of demarcations and attacks in the final 2,500 meters of the climb, bringing down his opponent, Ivan Gotti was the last to give. Pantani gained an advantage of more than 20″ over his rivals and wore the Maglia Rosa: it was the first of his four moments in that Giro, as well as the last, unfortunately, of his career.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
