FOSSANO – Finding a stranger stage than today's at Tour of Italy It's quite a headache. Even the winner said so. Tim Merlier. «After we sprinters broke away, perhaps we made the general classification men angry in the finale!».
The first sprint and first race were expected in Fossano It was a sprint. But to get to this epilogue, one shouldn't think of a fraction with a classic format.
From this chaos three characters emerge: Tim Merlier, the winner, Jonathan Milan, the loser, and he again: Tadej Pogacar, master and loose cannon at the same time.
The winner
La Soudal-Quick Step It had the merit of staying more united than other teams. And of springing into action at the perfect moment. David Bramati, the sporting director of the Belgian team was a tactical compendium.
«With such a technical and difficult finish – said Brama – it was impossible to move at 2.900 meters, that is, where the climb ended. We had assumed that someone could gain 3”-4” seconds, but we knew that that almost hairpin bend at 1.200 meters would have a significant impact. He would have slowed down and then, starting off almost from a standstill, he would have caught them again, especially since there was a breath of wind against him.
"As I told the guys to really get into action at 1.300 meters. Even just delaying the braking would have allowed him to gain important positions. And that's what happened."
The Brama boys, today also with a niceAlaphilippe, they followed his instructions to the letter. And Merlier did the rest.
«As I told you a few days ago, Merlier is fine. We brought a good team and today We're really pleased with this victory. We're very pleased, considering we haven't won in several weeks.».
The loser
Then there is Jonathan Milan. On an arrival that wasn't exactly ideal for his physique, having come close to success isn't all that bad. Sure, Fossano stifled the cry of joy a bit, but looking on the bright side, the leg is there.
But there's also a hint of disappointment. It would be a problem if it weren't there. To clarify everything is Simone Consonni, the “train conductor”. And Simone was almost more disappointed than Milan after the finish. In the last bend the four carriages of the Lidl Trek: two on one side and two on the other.
“We could have done better on a technical and tactical level,” Consonni tells us as he heads towards the buses, “but it’s also true that it was the first sprint of the Giro, and it’s already nice not to have put our butts on the ground, especially since it was so difficult.
«Pogacar and Thomas' attack got on our nerves, but not so much on a tactical level as on a physical level. And in fact Jonathan and Jasper (Stuyven, ed.) they took the curve in first and second position, while Eddy and I (Edward Theuns, ed.) We were a little further behind. We wasted a lot of time trying to get back under".
"The finish wasn't easy, and if we on the train were all there in the last 500 meters, it means we're doing well. We'll try again tomorrow."
The Loose Cannon
And then there's him. Always him: Tadej Pogačar. The rider of UAE Emirates He continues to enchant, but also to waste, and some are starting to blame him for this way of racing. The Slovenian, however, glosses over the matter.
"Expensive way of running? But no, it's all paid for!" as if to say that it costs nothing to make certain shots. He becomes more serious when asked if he wants to win every stage. Pogacar replies with a curt: "No comment."
When Tadej is well he doesn't stop, there's nothing he can do. Even Rafal Mayka he told us again a few days ago. Pogacar defends himself by saying that he did not initiate the attack, but simply followed Honorè. "I was ahead, I was feeling good, and I followed him. In fact, when Thomas came back, he was the one to make the first change. And he was strong, too. At that point, we pushed. It's a shame we didn't get there."
While we liked it, and it is a sign ofimmense lucidity, the story of the Cherasco intermediate sprint. The finish line came after a steep climb.
«I was in front – explained Pogacar – I saw that Thomas was there too and at that point I decided to go. Two seconds are always two seconds. Better for me than for him.».
