To understand that today's stage wasn't over for Pelayo Sanchez after that wrong roundabout, we have to go back to September 16, 2023. Guadarrama, the penultimate stage of the Vuelta. The Spaniard is riding in the breakaway with Wout Poels and a certain Remco Evenepoel.
There were other riders in the initial breakaway, but between extreme curves, out-of-the-seat riding, and long gear ratios, he eventually managed to stay with the two much stronger and more famous riders in the group. His sprint time was also right, but at 23 years old, in his first major Giro and at the end of the third week, he had to give up. Poels took first place, Remco second, Pelayo third.
Today, towards Rapolano Terme, the film almost repeats itself. The largest escape gradually thins out and he remains with two champions, Luke Plop and Julian Alaphilippe, who is also his idol.
This time, it's cold. This time, he put that lesson from Guadarrama to good use, and, thanks to his excellent legs, he finally made it. And not by a hair, so much so that he began shaking his head in disbelief a few meters before the white line.
TestI dream
At the time of Guadarrama, Pelayo Sanchez was a rider for Burgos-Bh, a Spanish professional team, now he is at Movistar. Unzue, who has a keen eye, immediately wanted him at his court.. And once again he hit the mark.
“I don’t realize I won a stage at the Giro,” Sanchez said. “I’m speechless. I've been saving my energy for this stage since the beginning of the Giro. And yes, I would have liked to break away. This stage had been in my head for a while, but I never thought it would be possible.
«During the race I tried to be patient and stay calm. In the end, it was just me, Plapp, and Alaphilippe left. I tried to break away, but I couldn't, so I had to focus everything on the sprint. Luckily, it worked out."
Fast Asturian
Pelayo Sanchez, born in 2000, 177 centimeters tall and weighing 62 kilos, Tellego in Asturias, perhaps the Spanish region most associated with cycling after the Basque CountryIn the media, Pelayo's news is taking a dig at politics, the Israeli issue, and the mega-investments ArcelorMittal is planning to make in Spain. Now the spotlight is on this young man.
Very easy-going and simple, Pelayo Sanchez is a quick learner, according to those close to him. "His stats would be those of a climber," his sports director explains. Maximilian Sciandri – but I would rather say that He is a complete rider, one who shines when the going gets tough. And today, for example, in the last 100 kilometers there was almost 2.000 meters of elevation gain. And then he's fast, very fast, and that's no small feat for someone who goes fast uphill.
When I came to see this stage, I thought of him, and I was planning on him trying it today, but there's a world of difference between saying and doing, not the sea! You have to combine so many possibilities, which multiply on dirt roads.
«When the shots started Sanchez tried two, three times and he did it also with the help of Fernando Gaviria e Lorenzo Milesi. Then the good action began with Alaphilippe. We, thinking of the escape, had already sent the second flagship forward."
Sciandri's Nebbiolo
The fact that Sciandri, a Tuscan, knew these streets and had carried out the inspection was extremely vital for Sanchez.
"I watched the last 80 kilometers," Max continues, "making videos of the entrance to the dirt roads, the Serre di Rapolano climb, and the finale. During the meeting, we imagined, putting ourselves in the shoes of a sport director with the general manager, that the group would not arrive as a whole, that they would let go. However, in the finale, We took the tough climb with 20 seconds to go: we were at the limit. Pelayo had to try there. He couldn't break away from them. Luckily, he remembered the ending well. Which was also a bit tight. What can I say? He was good. Good for keeping his cool, too, especially with a client like Alaphilippe, who knows his stuff when it comes to these arrivals.
So, Movistar is celebrating tonight. With the Tuscan sports director winning in Tuscany, it's fair to assume they'll toast with a nice local red.
«You know – concludes Sciandri – At the start of Turin, a friend of mine gave me a case of Nebbiolo. We're going with that tonight!».
Alaphilippe doesn't give up
But if this is the part of the winner, what do you say about the loser? Many were rooting for the former world champion, Julian Alaphilippe. How much good it would have done him and the Tour of Italy a victory of his?
Once upon a time, he would have devoured a similar fraction in one bite, this time he is making the best of a bad situation, in the sense that after the finish he smilingly congratulates Sanchez. Evidently “Loulou” knows it was just a question of legs: the other one had more, there is little to complain about.
But what matters is that the former world champion is there and growing. "I – explains the sporting director of the Soudal-Quick Step, David Bramati I think Julian and the team played a great game today. We were there in every attack. When that 24-man situation arose, UAE Emirates it closed and it was normal. But then We knew it could be a good moment and so Alaphilippe insisted and he was right."
"Brama" looks ahead. He says the Giro isn't over and implies that reliving certain sensations, namely competing for important finishes, can only do Alaphilippe good.
«Apart from one stage, the pace has always been high up to now – explains Bramati – even today: averaging 46 km/h on this route is incredible, for this reason Tomorrow many of my riders, including Alaphilippe, will take advantage of the time trial to "recover" for the other stages. There are still many opportunities. And we will try again."
