At one point it seemed like we could see him climbing Mount Etna. Pellizzari's white jersey stood out like a flash against the black of the mountain blackened by the fires of summerThere were 3,5 kilometers left when Giulio really attacked. And now that he's crossing the finish line, the man from Marche draws the loudest scream from his depths and rises above the din of the Alto de el MorrederoFirst professional victory, coming alone. It couldn't have been better. Damn, this is a day none of us will ever forget!
«When we reached the less steep part of the climb – Pellizzari tells us from the bus Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe The radio told me to try, but up to 100 meters I didn't even want to think that I had made itI'd been close before, and then they caught me, so I really waited until the end before cheering. What was in that scream? So much happiness!
The most beautiful day
Seventeenth stage of the Return, this time the protests in favor of Palestine do not affect the progress of the stage. Yesterday Vingegaard and the group's leaders expressed understanding for the Gaza drama. and perhaps this persuaded the protesters to let him carry the cross up the burning mountain.
«I think it was the best moment of my career – says Pellizzari – a short career up until now. I had a sense of security, I felt that today could be my dayThanks to all my teammates, we took the valley at full speed to try to wear Pidcock down, because clearly the objective is Hindley's podiumI took the first shot and they caught me, but on the second I went away and Jai protected me very well. Given the great work he did to aim for his podium, I am happy to have been able to reciprocate the team's efforts».
Perfect timing
Pellizzari and Hindley found themselves in numerical superiority after the headwind sapped the legs of the top of the class. Vingegaard tried to break away from Almeida, but unable to make any speed, he saw him coming back and remained thereHindley tried to beat Pidcock for the podium, but the Briton was undaunted and relaunched.
«We had come to see the climb – explains sports director Patxi Vila – and we knew that the valley below could be full of wind, so the team was fantastic, the boys were very good. Since Giulio was the furthest behind in the standings, in the end we decided to move the objective from the general classification to the stageAnd it worked well. Giulio got off to a great start, and Jay did an impressive job, too. It was a very tactical fight. The only one who tried to recover several times was Riccitello for the white jersey, while the others did not seem irresistible."
An award for Tiberi
On the day when also Tiberi he tried to give a sign of timid recovery, for Marco Villa comes a signal as clear as the blue of the shirts that will be announced on September 17th, before the expedition leaves for the World Championships in Kigali.
«Today was another very demanding day for sure – said the rider of the Bahrain Victorious – where we wanted to try to play our cards both in the breakaway and in the group with Torsen Traen for the general classification (the Norwegian is currently 9th, ed.). I managed to get into the breakaway of the day, but I understood that Visma in particular didn't want to leave too much space. Hope is always the last to die, so I played my cards right to the end.I tried to attack several times, because the feeling was good. They caught up with us, but I won the prize for most combative, which gives me morale and a bit of satisfaction."
A nod from Hindley
At last year's Giro It took Pogacar twice to ruin his plansThis year only the solo performance of Fortunato and Scaroni prevented him from winning the first race at the Giro. on San Valentino in Brentonico. It was clear that he had the right strength in his legs, it was not easy to understand if the team would give him the green lightUntil, after Hindley had passed in front, the Australian turned and waved. It was the signal Pellizzari had been waiting for since the start of the Vuelta.
"There were six of us in all," he says breathlessly, "and there were only two of us. I thought that if I went, no one would come to get me. Today I tried more than once to destroy myself by going full throttle on the steepest sections. But when the slope became a little lower, I tried it, and it was perfect for my weight. What can I say: thank you to everyone who believed in me from the very beginning."
The verdict of the time trial
Tomorrow's time trial could rewrite the balance of the Vuelta Espana, because the 50 seconds that separate Vingegaard from the more specialist Almeida could become much thinnerAnd as is fitting in the finale of the Grand Tours, specialists or not, those who have conserved the most energy always remain afloat.
«Tomorrow's time trial – says Pellizzari – is the stage I've been waiting for since the start in TurinI had to take it slow at the Giro, but here I'll put myself to the test to really test myself. In terms of sensations, I think that perhaps at the Giro I was better than now and this too is a lesson. I understood that to win you don't necessarily need to have the leg of your life».
On this day of detachments with the scales and calculations of residual energy, Pellizzari's splendid boldness brightened up the afternoon at Alto del Morredero, overlooking Ponferrada, in the province of Leon. An Italian with his head held high who at the Giro lived with Roglic and is pedalling alongside Hindley, waiting for Evenepoel to arrive next year. Someone who apparently isn't afraid of anything. Perhaps it is not even by chance that on the day of Del Toro At the Giro di Toscana, Giulio won the Vuelta. These two young men, like Sinner and Alcaraz on other stages, will soon share the future.
