PILA (AO) – It took only a few kilometers with Sep Kuss setting the pace in front of the group for the pink jersey to melt from the shoulders of Afonso Eulalio. A left bend 9 kilometres from the finish and the Portuguese who has been the master of this until now Tour of Italy he lost a meter, which later became ten and a hundred. When even a great Davide Piganzoli finished his work for jonas vingegaard It was about setting his pace and going for the third stage victory and the pink jersey.
Visma Lease a Bike was thought to be the master of the Giro already from the stage of blockhouse, then the beliefs shifted to Viareggio time trial, and instead nothing. The stoic Eulalius did not want to give up the symbol of primacy. So, the moment Jonas Vingegaard enters the truck used as a press room, you get the feeling that the Dane has finally managed to put things back in their place.
Vingegaard's solo
At the top of the climb that leads to the 1.800 metres of Pila, nature has designed what was a perfect amphitheatre, where the third work of the Danish director of Visma Lease a Bike was stagedThird stage victory and pink jersey, with a 49-second advantage over Felix Gall and 58 over Jai Hindley.
“I think the pink jersey is one of the most special symbols in the world of cycling,” says a smiling Jonas Vingegaard, “and I’m really happy to wear it. Many children and young people dream of being able to wear it, and being here today is something special.I think it's impossible to compare it to the other leader's jerseys, without saying anything negative I think the Tour is more important. But it's something I really wanted today and I'm proud, especially for having finalized the great work done by the team."
Pellizzari's tenacity
Giulio Pellizzari, in climbing the 16,5 kilometers that brought the group to Pila, really showed how much he can be worthAlways at the back of the group, which was slowly losing unity, but with the rider from the Marche always close behind. At the start there were many questions about his health., and doubts about the performance that he could have achieved even better. This is why today's fifth place, just over a minute behind Vingegaard, is worth its weight in gold.
«I'm happy about today – he says wearing the white jersey, borrowed from Eulalio who will be able to wear it from today – It was a pain but I'm happy with how it wentThis morning I told myself it would be a challenge with myself, to give my best and stay focused. I have to thank many people who have been close to me in these days, without which I probably would have already gone home.
"Today I rode with a lot of anger over the past few days," he continued, "and I raced with only myself in mind. In the final kilometers, I found myself side by side with Piganzoli; we're great friends, and I'm happy to have him in the group. Over the years we have grown a lot and we often train together.Even if he works for a rival, our friendship goes beyond cycling."
Pink Goal
Visma Lease a Bike was called upon to deliver a great performance today, partly because of the design of a truly challenging stage, but also because of the overall standings. The gap from Eulalio, which this morning was 33 seconds, had shifted all attention to the hornets and their captain. The time had come to act.
«The tactics this morning – continues Vingegaard in his story – make the race as hard as possible by controlling it from the startWe did it, or rather, my teammates did it. And it was impressive how we managed to run today. It was a demanding day, where each of us pushed ourselves to the max, myself included.The pace imposed by Kuss and Piganzoli on the last climb allowed me not to make a sudden attack, but to progress.
«I don't think I won the Giro – he replies to a question – because a bad day can happen to anyone. We have to stay focused and fight for this beautiful jersey."
Tomorrow the Giro will face a stage for sprinters, finishing in Milan, a stage without any altimetric difficulties but full of the many pitfalls that can lurk in the city. It will be the turn of the sprinters and their trains, then the last day of rest will project us into the third and decisive week.
