Kooij’s brutal victory in the Giro’s ninth stage in Naples, Pogacar remains a firm leader

What a beautiful ending we experienced in the ninth episode of Italy spins, to start with Avezzano and ends with Naplesof 214 kilometers, the second stage with the highest mileage of this edition of Corsa Rosa. One of those days in any other race would be soporific but at the Giro d’Italia they end up taking on epic overtones.

The profile of the route suggested that it would be a stage for the sprinters, for the fastest men in the peloton, although they warned before the last kilometers left, from the climb to the fourth level of the category of Monte di Procida, They won’t be easy.

The last 30 kilometers were filled with some hard and short climbs where the steep climbs saw some good battles break out, when the two member of Team Polti-Kometa, Maestri and Pietrobon was neutralized, after riding to the head of the stage from the beginning.

Again the French Julian Alaphilippe He is still determined to be one of the most competitive cyclists in this edition of Italy is spinning and with 18 kilometers away he attempted heroism with his countryman Costiou. He left all his strength, but behind him was the work of the teams of sprinters, especially in these last kilometers of Lidl-Trekit will bear fruit.

Classic taste at the end

an exhausted ‘loulou’ He was neutralized 7.7 kilometers from the finish line and this was the moment the Ecuadorian chose Narvaez to launch his attack. The corridor of Ineos, who had already won the first stage of the Giro, surprised everyone with his attack. The sprinters suffered on that part of the last elevation climb of the day and the final route favored them.

With 2 kilometers to go I had over ten seconds to spare. One of the San Francisco Playón He left every last drop of sweat. In the last stretch they jumped on him and were gregarious Pogacar He did everything to throw his teammate well cold within UAE Team Emiratesbut in the end the one who will surprise everyone is the Dutch rider from Team Visma Olav Kooij.

Kooij he hid behind the giant Milan and when he opened to his left to try to win, a corridor opened up to him that he did not waste. Narvaez, Defeated and exhausted, he couldn’t even stand on his bike to try to complete his feat, and the sprinters passed him, needless to say, at full speed by his side.

Fifth victory of the season for the Dutch rider Numansdorp, against a Milan repeating second place from last year in Naples, in a stage that was more fought and debated than the road book presented and finished again at full speed. Surely all cyclists are thankful for the rest day this Monday, already Tadej Pogacar face as a strong race leader.