One meter at a time. Slowly. Inexorably. In Reggio Emilia. Alberto Dainese he is the protagonist of a sprint that not even he expected.
Romain Bardet He passes the finish line with a huge smile. He slams his fists on the handlebars in joy for his teammate. The Frenchman didn't see the sprint, but he heard the cheers from the now ubiquitous radio. And he understood. He understood that Alberto had made it. A surprise.
Reggio Emilia was very windy, but almost entirely in its favor. The final average was 47,015. De Bondt, who had started when the group had finished the fight of the fans, was caught in the last kilometre
Reggio Emilia was very windy, but almost entirely in its favor. The final average was 47,015. De Bondt, who had started when the group had finished the fight of the fans, was caught in the last kilometre
Unknown wind
The eleventh stage of the Giro d'Italia, the second longest of the Tour of Italy (203 kilometers), it was feared it might be boring. It was known that it would come down to a sprint, and perhaps attacks could be discouraged.
The antennas were straight for everyone though, because there was wind. Jumbo Visma, Quick Step – Alpha Vinyl ed Ineos Grenadiers. After Bologna, for about thirty kilometers, it was a close battle: the objective was to stay ahead, not take gaps for possible fans.
But the route changes direction again and the wind returns to its favor. Nothing doing. It's a compact sprint. If the very talented Belgian from Alpecin Fenix, Dries De Bondt, he almost hits the jackpot, behind things are passing with apparent calm.
Everyone is waiting for that Cavendish e demare take the initiative. Guarnieri, the Frenchman's companion, knows these streets well since he is almost at home.
Even Dainese and the dsm They remain faithful to the dogma of staying in front. Partly to protect Bardet, and partly because his companions escorted him well. In fact, he was the one who was supposed to escort...
«I wasn't supposed to do the sprint – says Dainese – he had to do it Bowl. But then we talked. He told me he wasn't well so I tried. And I wasn't entirely convinced either, I didn't feel great, considering I hadn't slept well last night."
The Dainese Scott. Size S, despite his 1,76 meters height. He has 172,5 mm cranks. Vittoria tubulars and 50mm Shimano wheels (Demare had 60mm ones) Another interesting fact: Alberto has no reminder or altimeter on his handlebars... On Demare's one there was the food table: what to eat (solids, liquids, gels) and how often.
The Dainese Scott. Size S, despite his 1,76 meters height. He has 172,5 mm cranks. Vittoria tubulars for Dainese and 50mm Shimano wheels (Demare had 60mm ones) Another interesting fact: Alberto has no reminder or altimeter on his handlebars... On Demare's one there was the food table: what to eat (solids, liquids, gels) and how often.
From basketball to cycling
Yes, but he did it. So who is Alberto Dainese? Who is this guy who leads Italy to take a stage after more than halfway through the Giro?
He's from Padua, Abano Terme to be precise. Born in 1998, he's in his third year as a professional. He used to play basketball, but since he's not very tall, he switched to cycling.
"I first learned about cycling as a child," Alberto explains, "because I spent afternoons at my grandparents' house while Mom and Dad worked. My grandparents watched cycling on TV, and I became passionate about it. As a student, I also did a fair amount of track cycling, because I wasn't good in a group. But this, I think, gave me a good pedal stroke, just like that." the many leaps I made in basketball gave me a bit of explosiveness."
Holland and Italy
Before moving to DSM, Alberto Dainese also served in the SEC Racing Academy, a Dutch continental team. A team that does a lot of international activity and that apparently works well, given that when Marco Frigo, another Italian jewel, he had asked him for advice on whether to go there or not, Alberto himself had given him the green light.
«True – Dainese continues – I spent two years in Holland and it was useful. But before that I had spent two years at Ointment and those were also precious seasons. At Seg I gained a lot of experience, but also with Marino Amadori I ran a lot in the national team. So I don't feel like saying that I only came out of a Dutch team, The Italian school system exists and counts. And given what we've achieved in recent years, it doesn't seem to me to be in crisis."
Speed, not watts
Meanwhile, Reggio Emilia is trying to return to its tranquility. This city in the lower plains was packed today. Once again, the Giro was a huge success. As we cross the straight to return to the press room, we "see" the sprint again.
Dainese really made a super comeback.
«It was a long sprint – says Dainese – In fact I started from behind and I don't know if the wind was against or in my favour, I didn't really understand! When the sprint started I didn't accelerate immediately, But when I got out, I saw I had good momentum, and I pushed until the end. I believed in it.
«Demare had the best position, but many times it's the "elastic" that counts, that is, how you get to the line, how you come out».
«I did the sprint with the 54×11 and it turned agileIt was a very fast sprint. If you tell me that Gaviria (second, ed.) reached 75, I must have done a little more. I don't know the watts yet, but in the end they don't matter much; what matters is speed.
"I also look at the data every now and then and say to myself, 'Oh, okay, it can be done.' But then you have to hit certain peaks at the end of the stage, after 200 kilometers. Look at Cav who wins with relatively low watts."
Bardet leader
On the podium, after the mockery of Girmay yesterday, which forced him to retire, Dainese was careful with the champagne cork. The splashes landed on the crowd and, symbolically, on his teammates.
Once again, cycling proved itself to be a team sport. After the finish line, the DSMs all gathered together. Captain Bardet was the happiest, almost happier than Alberto.
«There is a good atmosphere in the team – concludes Dainese – when we suffer and struggle together and one of us wins, happiness is for everyone. Bardet always believed in me, even when I didn't. And seeing a guy who's third in the standings and wants to win the Giro so happy for you is beautiful."
