MONTE PETRANO – When Ayuso went to talk to Hindley after arriving, The Australian shrugged, annoyed by the changes the Spaniard didn't give him in the last kilometre. After yesterday's blowVingegaard put them all back in their places, but the climb was tough, the riders all arrived close to the limit and in these cases even patience goes to waste.
The two litigants
La Bora Hansgrohe he tried to cancel the race, it was the right thing to do. Prima Martinez and then Kamna started Petrano at a good pace, but against Vingegaard there was little they could doThe Dane left with 6 kilometres to go and the two remaining riders found themselves fighting for second place, both in the stage and in the general classification..
«Today I had better feelings than yesterday – says Ayuso, numb – I had a small mechanical problem at a really difficult time, but thanks to the team I managed to get back. Then I needed to catch my breath at the back of the group, and that's why I started the climb at the bottom. I gradually overtook the group and it definitely went better than yesterday., especially because yesterday I never had a good feeling. I knew that when Jonas attacked, I would have to hold out as long as possible. I was hoping he would stop and we would sprint, but he turned around and instead of sitting down he made another lunge and I had to give up.But I'm glad I tried to run like this. When there's such a superior rider, there's not much to do except try and maybe explode, like I exploded today."
The Vingegaard level
In comparison with Hindley, Ayuso seemed more solid than yesterday and he seems to sincerely apologize when he says he didn't give any more substitutions because his teammate was coming back from behind Del Toro. Light topic, given that the Mexican was worse off in the standings, but that's it.
«At a certain point – he says – The relay team told me that my partner was coming from behind, so I stopped cooperating.I like to contribute, but you can't always do that. However, it was an excellent and very complete week. On the first day I was happier than today, because I won the time trial and it was special to do it on that flat course. From Tirreno-Adriatico I'm taking with me the good feelings of today, I had different legs. I can't quantify how much I'm missing to reach Vingegaard's level, but today I think I was a little closer.At least I managed to outsprint the first pursuers, yesterday not even that. I'll try to get closer, little by little..."
Win as much as possible
They made a sort of cordon around Hindley, on top of this mountain where the sky has lowered, dark and cold. The bearded press officer warned not to ask questionse. Then the winner of the 2022 Giro dressed up in his best gear and headed downhill towards the buses, again at the base of the climb today, just as Vingegaard joined us to tell us about his day.
"When there's a chance," he says, speaking of his victory, "why not go for it? Today I used a different bike. Yesterday it made more sense to go with the S5, because there was a long descent and then a long flat section. And when the speed is that high, it's better to go with the aerodynamic bike. But today the arrival was uphill, so it makes more sense to have the R5, the climber's bike. These are decisions we make together, the team and I. Today too, I gave it everything I had. When things go like this, I try to push myself beyond my limits. Winning in March is part of the Tour process, but also of my being a rider. The season is not just about the Tour de France and I like the idea of trying to win races, win as many as possible.I always have a lot of confidence in myself and I believe that in July I can do well, no matter what my current form is."
Waiting for the Tour
Even today he dominated and to be a bit unsympathetic, you have to ask him if he doesn't think he had a group of opponents that were a little too soft, while the strongest are at Paris-Nice.
«In France – he confirms – there are some of the strongest riders in the world and I honestly can't wait to race against themRemco and Roglic are very strong, but the level here was also very good. We race and we refer to the riders who are there. We race in the way that most inspires us and For me, Alberto Contador has always been an inspiration.I liked the way he ran and the style he had."
Then they come to call him, because he's cold and because the transfer ahead of us is really long. While the riders leave, we return to the press room. There's this piece to write, then a two-hour drive to tomorrow's stageThe Tirreno is coming to an end, and great challenges loom on the horizon.
