PIAN DI PEZZE' (BL) – Thrown onto the asphalt on the left side of the road, Giulio Ciccone drinks furiously from a plastic bottle that he squeezes forcefully so that the water goes down his throat faster. He pauses at times to swallow and takes sips of a cherry supplement and looks around in a dimension all its own, which apparently is not affected by the noise and chatter aroundIf the goal of the day was to score as many mountain points as possible, mission accomplished. If he wanted to add a stage victory to that, then today is another day to be chewed over. I wonder if the Abruzzese still thinks he would have done better this year. better to focus on the general classification...
The same place, 34 years later
Ciccone gets up with the help of the masseur and moves to the other side of the road to let the cars of the race direction pass. On this same road, 34 years ago we remained alongside Marco Pantani for a long time, in the story of the enterprise which had just earned him the Giro d'Italia for amateurs. Everything is different, life and cycling, only the mountains above our heads are the same as thenDuring the days spent at high altitude in Sierra Nevada, Giulio said that he had watched the DVDs that tell the story of Pantani for the umpteenth time and you can bet that before leaving he knew very well that If only this mountain had only one winner so far: the Pirate!
"Today was a stage," he says, "where those who had the pace would have gained. On the first climb, the pace was very strong, we immediately broke down. I wasted a lot, I ran for the shirt and to get the pointsI had to run like this, it was the only solution I had. I must also say that I was very lucky. finding several riders in the breakaway who gave me a handLike Giulio Pellizzari, whom I have to thank so much. Also Bettiol on the first climb.
«Then, once on the Falzarego, the idea of going downhill at full speed to gain a lead came up. I knew I had to go down at full speed, but The anger over Einer Rubio's behavior has given me even more determination to take some slightly more reckless turns."
The disagreement with Rubio
The problem arose on the Falzarego, when the Colombian who in this Giro shared with Ciccone an infinite number of kilometres in the breakaway, he sprinted and took the 18 points of the mountain grand prixGiulio was not kind in recounting the episode, but he knows that the problem arose when Derek Gee sprinted for the Red Bull Kilometer. Rubio confirms: they had talked, reaching an agreement for Ciccone to take the mountain points and he to cross the finish line which was five kilometers before. The fact that the riders of the Lidl Trek wanted to take them both, pushed him to sprint on the Falzarego.
After the full descent, Ciccone found himself in the lead on the final climb, starting with a minute on the chasing groupIt's hard to say if it could have arrived, but certainly when the recovered Pellizzari attacked bringing Sepp Kuss with him, the fugitive's margin began to drop rapidly.
«I knew that I had to keep up my pace – says Ciccone – I knew I shouldn't overrev. I kept a good pace, but objectively I wasted a lot in the valleyThere was a very strong, headwind, and I wasted a lot of time there. If the climb had started earlier, it would have been much better."
The Pellizzari rediscovered
And if Ciccone leaves Alleghe strong of the third place, of the Cima Coppi (he passed first on the Passo Giau) and 57 points ahead of Vingegaard, Pian di Pezzè brought back a smile to Pellizzari's face.Giulio went on the run, tried to win and in the final gave everything he had to increase Hindley's lead over ArensmanThe Australian is currently third, 29 seconds ahead of the Dutchman from Netcompany-Ineos.
«I'm happy to have helped Jai – says Pellizzari – because At the time I didn't realize that I didn't have the legs to winI heard Arensman had dropped out, so I waited and I'm really glad I could help him out. It was a nice reaction, but let's say that the problem now is more the legs than the morale.Let's do the best we can with what we have, knowing that this was certainly not my best performance.
«I was coming out of two days lived badlyI also talked about it with my girlfriend, when you don't have legs, your mood plummets. It's not the best because at 22 we should know that there are other things in life too, but I think when the legs come, I'll be happy again."
There are two stages left until the end of the Giro, Tomorrow the double climb of Piancavallo will write the final word under the fight for the general classificationA strange Giro for the Italians, who once again found themselves looking over the winner's shoulder. Not all seasons are the same, and it's clear that the search for points for a jersey can take away the energy and clarity needed to winIn this Giro without any great spectacle, what remains is the certainty that we are going really strong every day and this makes it necessary to choose. Which is better: the mountain jersey or the victory of a legendary stage?
