Today is THE day, the time of Zoncolan has arrivedAt the start it seems like a stage like any other: it's sunny, it's hot, it seems like an ordinary summer day, but There is something different in the faces of the riders who are preparingWhether it's concern for the uphill finish or the knowledge that we'll arrive where a piece of cycling history was written, it's unclear.
The speaker says it and underlines it several times: today we climb the Zoncolan, retracing the roads that Lorenzo Fortunato devoured two years ago, winning his first stage at the Giro d'ItaliaIn Pavia di Udine, the teams arrive on time, take the stage, introduce themselves and smile for the cameras, then line up.
We look at them, they look at each other. We try to find in the eyes of our opponents the determination of the one who will tempt us and the fear of those who know that today might not be the right day.
Green to defend
Among the dozens of riders passing by us, we decide to stop Andrea Alfio Bruno (Parkpre Racing Team), in the green jersey. He's very focused (or maybe a little tense?). He tells us how these two days went and he says his legs seem to be responding wellHe knows the stage and has his goal firmly in mind: to stay in the green. Of the day's GPMs, he says he's aiming for the third, second categoryHe knows he has to break away to get those points, but he's confident that the road will give him the answers he's looking for, the reassurance he needs.
«The kilometers (and average hourly speed) of the last few days – he says – are starting to make themselves felt».
Andrea is aware that the stage is not as simple as it may seem from the altimetry, but he is determined to do well.
Yellow in the balance
The mood of the yellow jersey is different, however, Matthew Zurlo (Zalf Euromobil Fior)Yesterday he said: «I'll give it my all, but it's not my field"We talk to each other, he confesses that he has never run on the Zoncolan before, but he feels good. He knows that probably, just like last year, the yellow jersey will be the memory of just one day of racing.
Three, two, one...off we go. The group pedals toward kilometer zero, and we head toward Zoncolan. At the Aldo Moro refuge, the warm and sunny day of just a few hours before seems like a distant memory: it's cloudy, it's colder. But it is majestically beautiful: it is THE mountain. Here you sweat, you work hard, but the greatest satisfactions are achievedFor those who appreciate the mountains, today is simply the perfect day.
Lucca wins
The riders' arrival isn't long away; the first of the group arrives right on time. Timidly, the first helmet appears from the finish lineThere's great excitement among the masseurs awaiting the boys, although some indications have already arrived from the flagships.
It's a white helmet, then you see the shirt. It's white. It doesn't fade to blue. The masseuse recognizes it: è Richard Lucca and Work Service Vitalcare Vega. He is smiling, satisfied, contented… Of course, someone might say, he is the best on Zoncolan (opening, photo Bolgan).
The arrivals of the riders follow one another, they are tired, they are looking for something to cover themselves, But our eyes cannot hide a certain gratification in having arrived this far. While we are immersed in watching this spectacle, Francesco Busatto arrives (General Store), who to his winning friend, smiling, simply says: "You made me come second again.".
Riccardo is happy: he knew the climb, he knew where to push off just before the last kilometre, but he didn't think twice about it play it all outFrom what he tells, it was a nervous day, with a fall, a fast descent, and little cooperation on the climb. The mountains don't give discounts, on the Zoncolan the price is fixed and the same for everyone: you can only rely on your own strength.
Flemish Yellow
Among those who melt into hugs, snorts, those who ease the tension of the queen stage of the Giro, there are those who are still hyper-focused, their eyes busy doing the math. Nicolò Buratti (Cycling Team Friuli) finishes third and counts the seconds for the yellow jersey, until the official announcement arrives: the new leader is Emiel Verstrynge (Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team).
More disheartened, a few meters further back Andrea Alfio Bruno stops, still in the green jersey and our simple questioning is the opportunity to let off some steam. The green jersey, his goal, slips away by just a few points. He's a little disappointed, he doesn't hide it from us, but he promises he'll try again tomorrow..
The teams go down quickly, only one remains the many enthusiasts and mechanics who, amidst the gathering clouds, fix the bikes. Was it a day that could have gone differently? Maybe not. It was a day of great cycling, the day of the queen mountain of the GiroFrom here, it's all downhill, towards Udine.
