PISA – How are you, Giulio? “Too good,” he replies. The Lucca-Pisa time trial ended just seconds ago for Giulio Pellizzari. He's clear-headed and present. The masseurs are around a sharp bend. Giulio sees them and stops without a problem. Others before him had had difficulty negotiating this bend, especially since the asphalt was slippery.
The rider of Red Bull-Bora Primoz Roglic is increasingly the most valuable man and, rightly, he's starting to realize it. «In a month I went from not doing anything Tour of Italy to be there... and well, too." The dream continues. This morning some boys, a little younger than him, had approached him for selfies, and Pellizzari agreed. Then he took his lunch box and went to the bus to wait for the warm-up and the start.
After Hindley
Clearly the fall of Jay Hindley It changed the team's plans quite a bit, and partly Pellizzari's. After the Tagliacozzo and Siena stages he became almost as valuable as Roglic for the pink jersey.
If there might have been a half-hearted idea before, more of a fan dream than anything, of seeing him attack, not now. But that's fair, it's normal. The stakes are too high. He could have tested himself in time trials: in Tirana, for example, he did very well. Today he didn't even do a reconnaissance, to conserve energy.
“I did it calmly,” Pellizzari said. “I had great legs. And I really wanted to push, but the car was telling me to slow down because they needed my help. And I'm here for the team. The good thing, though, is that I tested myself on a long time trial. And I know I can still improve a lot.
How has my Giro d'Italia changed since Hindley's crash? A lot. We've definitely lost our most important man, so we're trying to stay close to Primoz and believe he can turn things around. We have a lot of faith in him.
As Giulio tells us these words, his captain is just struggling with the stopwatch and the wet asphalt.
Precious Pellizzari
As we were saying and as you can see, the man from the Marche region has risen in rank. Daniel Martinez He's not doing very well, Hindley isn't there and the others are more of a rouleur. We'll certainly see him come out in the distance Jan TratnikAfter Siena, Pellizzari somehow protected himself. It was thanks to him that Roglic didn't fail. Alone, he kept the gap within certain limits, while in front, in Juan Ayuso's group, there were many pulling: Ayuso, the Lidl Trek, some of Ayuso's companions…
Therefore, this feeling is growing stronger. Roglic often sought him out after the arrivals. He talks to us. And we know that during the high-altitude training camps they got to know each other better, thanks also to Pellizzari himself, who Within a few months he reintroduced himself to the team speaking excellent English, which is essential for sharing and building relationships. Something that didn't go unnoticed by the team either, as he told us some time ago Enrico Gasparotto.
"Yes, there's a good feeling with Primoz. I'm here to help him," he says. "I'm learning a lot in this Giro. And this role is fine. In fact, I think that If I had done the rankings I wouldn't have been ready, and I'm realizing this thanks to Primoz».
Which is to say that the difficulties aren't just on the road: pressure, post-stage management... Not everything is a given. "And that's why I try to learn as much as I can. And then maybe next year I can take his place."
Towards the mountains
How nice it is to hear him speak like this. Ambition and respect. Desire to win, but also gratitude to the team. After this time trial, The game is not getting any easier for Bora-HansgroheBad luck played a part in this twice.
The first during the reconnaissance, when Roglic slipped. And the second today, when the Slovenian was forced to ride on wet asphalt, especially on the downhill section. This, however, did not happen to Ayuso and Del Toro, who faced the descent on dry ground. Thus, a time trial in which he had to recover a lot turned into an occasion in which he had to settle for pennies.
Another tough stage tomorrow. Everyone's talking about San Pellegrino in Alpe, but after that climb, the route won't offer anything. More climbs, no flat terrain. In short, with no more time trials, this is a Giro that will be decided in the mountains.
Once again, however, Pellizzari is ready and optimistic. "Are we ready for these climbs? I can't wait.".
