COLFIORITO – It's been raining and cold since morning. The mountains between Umbria and Marche are buried in clouds, just like the the front of the small group heading towards the sprint seems homogeneous, dark and soaked. Then like a ray of something resembling a light, Andrea Vendrame's progression makes the people crowded in front of the screens jump. It's immediately noticeable that the Venetian's change of pace is one that leaves its mark. No one responds, but someone tries. Behind pidcock e Gregoire they launch themselves in his wake, but the advance was the right choiceThere's no time to recover. The Decathlon rider wins well and wins when it rains. And on this day at Tirreno-Adriatico, as twice previously at the Giro d'Italia, the two factors married together beautifully.
An (almost) extreme day
Before him, Ganna also tried the advanceThe race leader held off attacks on the final climb. He urged his team to hold the race together. And when he set off with 3,5 kilometers to go, there was a brief feeling that he would arrive. It would have been a great move, but anyway, tonight Pippo returns to the hotel with the feeling of having great legs.. And see Van der Poel closing on his extension gave for a few moments a sense of Sanremo coming.
«Some days I feel good – smiles Vendrame who doesn't stop shaking – my body responds well, I remember the victory of Sappada, even if today the temperatures are a bit… awful. It wasn't exactly the best day to ride our bikes, but it's our job and that's what we're here for.We rode 200 kilometers in the rain. I'm fine. I took inspiration from all my teammates who helped me. We kicked off today with a possible arrival of 40-50 riders and it was either me or Dorian Godon who should have tried. In the end, things went well for me, and now I hope to continue on this wave..."
Vendrame's cunning
As soon as the group left Foligno behind, the game was to identify the GC men on the final climb. The fall of Milan he made us jump, so seeing him again at the finish line in apparently good condition was a sigh of relief. Jonathan didn't stop to talk, The doctor picked him up after the awards ceremony and directed him to the busIn our search for the favorites, Ganna's ease on the climbs stood out, Ciccone was seen scampering in the front positions. Van der Poel was pulling away and Ayuso was attempting a surprise move. And yet in all that time, We hadn't even seen Vendrame yet., hidden like a sniper in the silhouettes of his rivals.
«The secret – he admits – was climb the hill with the first ones and then carry the bike to the last 300 meters from the finish lineI knew the lane was narrowing, so getting a little ahead of the sprint was the key thing to do. It was about staying calm and cool and that definitely helped me.I haven't won a lot in my career. Two stages at the Giro (besides Sappada, the 2021 one in Bagno di Romagna, ed.) and other races in France. Winning the Tirreno is exceptional, I was missing an away result at the Giro d'Italia. The team asks me for a lot of results in terms of points, I think I have shown that I am always consistent. and useful for the work they ask of me. Today the important thing was to wait for the right moment and wait for the sprint. I had no choice but to play it like that."
Ganna, clear words
In this white tent with the table, the microphones, a few chairs, a few journalists and Vendrame who is leaving, Pippo Ganna also suddenly enters, who today will have blessed the thick beard he had joked about after the time trialThe leader held his ground well on the climb and is now in good spirits.
«Today has been a long day – he says smiling, but aggressively – in which no one wanted to give us a hand. Fortunately, in the final, when the race heated up, I asked Van der Poel if he could send a man to help and he was happy to do so. So I have to thank him and Alpecin, too, and a little less the others who didn't give a damn. It was a long, cold stage, now let's focus on warming up. The leg is definitely good, I'm sorry I didn't winMaybe I was wrong to anticipate too much, but if I hadn't done so I would have been left wondering what would have happened if I hadn't. So I have to thank my teammates who went out of their way today even in these conditions.We defended ourselves, we defended the shirt, tomorrow is another day and we hope that some sunshine can come out."
Three in a row like in 2003
At Paris-Nice the stage was half neutralized due to hail and rain, here we raced right to the top. It was the third Italian victory in the first three stages, something that hadn't happened since 2003 (Cipollini, Pozzato, Cipollini, ed.) And Ganna and Vendrame before him are two feathers in our caps.
«In the final it was just me and De Plus – continues Ganna – and he is also here to make the rankings, so I didn't want to make him take unnecessary risks to set up the sprintMaybe I could have done it alone, gotten in the right position, and come out on top. Anyway, I had further proof that my leg is fine and that I'll continue to improve. Did Van der Poel come to get me? I think that when you fight for victory, you don't look at anyone.If the roles were reversed, I would have done the same. We have a lot of respect off the bike and on the bike too, but obviously when you're racing, it's a race for everyone. Today it came out a good test also in view of the next appointments of a certain mileage».
Sanremo in due time
The doubt remains as to whether he will be able to defend the shirt, but Ganna doesn't make predictions and doesn't worry.He says the climb was suitable today, but that tomorrow might be tougher. Then, with a superstitious smile, he adds that he hadn't looked at the weather forecast. We will cycle up to the 1.600 meter mark and up there this water could be snow. «Maybe if I had called Van der Poel before attacking – he reflects – maybe things would have been different. But the race is the race and Every now and then you have to try and push yourself to your limitsWe'll think about Sanremo when the time comes."
