The last round, the moment when the conclusions are drawn, in short, the final stages. There aren't many calculations to be made, the general election is running out of time. Between Emiel Verstrynge (Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team) and Nicolò Buratti (Cycling Team Friuli), there is just two seconds of gap. And between the Belgian leader and the third-placed driver, Davide Toneatti (Italian national cyclocross team, but an athlete of Astana Development), at the start of the last stage of the Tour of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the seconds that pass are three. It seems like the ideal finale to a great Giro, where all the games are still open and the fight is not only for the stage, but also for the entire race.
The start from Trieste
It's a Sunday of real cycling: It's hot in Trieste, but the view is breathtakingThe group, 136 strong, sets off towards Udine, first crossing the Friulian hills. The group is nervous, the teams know that there are clear interests and they don't move, if not behind the backs of those who intend to run.
They have to pass over 60 kilometers for the first real escape to take offThere are nine riders, but they won't be able to gain more than half a minute on the peloton. Many believe in it, right up until the end, both among the general classification riders and the sprinters.
Just one second
The group arrived in Udine after just three and a quarter hours of racing, with an average speed of over 47 km/h. It's Liam Bertazzo (Maloja Pushbikers) breaking the deadlock in the Friulian city and he tries to break away, so much so that for a moment it seemed a done deal. But the group behind him isn't happy with it. Nicolò Buratti arrives like lightning from behind, who overtakes Bertazzo, gaining a considerable lead meter after meter. Third place goes to Filippo Fortin (the Udine podium opens).
He is the one who wins the last Giro del Friuli, but he doesn't celebrate, he looks behind him: has two seconds passed? Maybe so, everyone believes so, even the yellow jersey, who now seems to have accepted defeat. The wait for the official finish line seems endless, but the verdict is in: The Friulian CTF rider managed to gain only a second on the Belgian. And he missed out on the yellow jersey..
From here, a screen split in two: on the left, Verstrynge and all of Alpecin explode in a cry of happiness, on the right the CTF trying to metabolise the second (just one second!) that separates them from the yellow jersey.
Second victory
Let's stop Nicolò before the jury's verdict arrives and we analyze things together, trying to understand whether these two seconds exist or not.
«We knew the route – he says – we tried to break the bank several times, but it wasn't easy. We knew where we had to attack and we had no margin for error, also considering that there are no discounts."
But after all, things are done now, we look on the bright side: Nicolò Buratti and the entire Cycling Team Friuli achieved their second victory at their home Giro, after the initial team time trial and for the 2001-born rider, the blue jersey also arrives, as leader of the points classification.
The yellow and the white
For Emiel Verstrynge instead the yellow jersey and the white jersey (reserved for young riders): in short, the best of the Giro del Friuli, it's himHe's happy, but deep down he can't believe it.
"I'm very happy with how the race went," he commented. "It's an important victory. I'm also very satisfied because the level of preparation of Belgian athletes is very high, as well as the races we participate in as under 23s. This victory gives me a lot of morale, I'm happy to have managed to bring home the yellow jersey together with all my teammates, to whom I owe a lot."
Bruno's smile
You remember Andrea Alfio Bruno, whom we left on the Zoncolan with a bit of regret for his green jersey? Well, in Udine, he smiles again, because thanks to the points won today, he is the leader of the GPM again.
It was an interesting Giro Friuli. Watching the under 23s, the young people of cycling, is always a great fortuneYes, they have a lot to learn, but also, and above all, a lot to teach. In Udine, the sun is setting behind the castle, the day, the last one of the rush, is coming to an end... and do you know what we do now? We celebrate!
