BORMIO – The pink jersey and the white one: the same starter, yet opposite destinies for those who wore them. While in fact Del Toro he got back on track, Tiberi sank into a painful rankingThe pink jersey won, the white one arrived after 10'31” and now we will have to see if and how his Giro will continue. Teammate Caruso he arrived 16 seconds behind Del Toro, occupying fifth place in the standings at 1'09” from the fourth of Derek Gee.
The answer of Del Toro
Needed some answers after yesterday's misstep e Del Toro he gave some very convincing onesi. First on the Mortirolo, keeping pace with the most daring riders. Then with the attack on the Motte and finally the downhill sprint that allowed him to win the stage ahead of Bardet, Carapaz and YatesThe standings remain tight, but the dangerous swing of the pink jersey has suddenly ceased.
«I had to prove something to myself – says the pink jersey – there is a need to always move forward and never give upYesterday's stage was tough for everyone. You can have a bad day and I just needed to move forward, gain more morale and never give up In this cycling, which is truly incredibly tough. I took the lapse and tried to learn the lesson quickly. I've never been in this position, and I certainly reached the finish line with nothing left to give. But I'm not complaining, the lesson was useful to me and today I felt like attacking. I needed it."
The difference with two curves
We saw it again safe and powerful on the climbs. His shot did not bend carapaz, but he made him understand that the leader is still in his placeYates gave in. And when after two sharp turns he dropped everyone on the downhill, his bow at the finish line It brought him back to when he won the Milan-Turin with the zipper broken and completely lowered, so as not to show it he hid behind the same gesture, also done today – he said – as a joke with his brother.
"Exactly," he smiles, "a joke. But in reality that bow is worth it." thank you to all the people out there because they are always with me, they support me and they shout my name and I don't understand whyIt's a strange feeling, because I don't really feel that special. But when I'm in the group and we pass through some town, it's incredible to hear them calling my name. It helped me get back on track.We are human beings and last night I realized that I will have to be focused these days. There's no point in complaining and spending too much time thinkingYesterday I managed to get the best sleep of this Giro and this morning I knew I wanted to finish the job well, because my comrades of the UAE Team Emirates they deserve to be repaid for the wonderful work they have done.
"On this stage, on this day, in this weather, we got within striking distance of Bardet, and then I made the difference with two corners. But I don't want to sound arrogant. I just did my best to try to get there as quickly as possible.When I saw the gap, I just tried to get to the finish line. I don't think I'm particularly crazy, it's clear that staying in front means you run a little more risk, but that's all."
The collapse of Tiberius
When Tiberi stopped in front of the masseurs of the Bahrain Victorious, flanked by Zambanini who finished the stage alongside him, had a pained expression. His day was an ordeal, with Mortirolo being the merciless judge. Already last night he had confessed that he didn't feel at his best and when he woke up he felt the severe pain in the left side, he realized that the day would not live up to his ambitions. He downed the cherry juice, put on a cape with two towels around his neck and then he put his face to itThe shy boy of a few years ago has transformed into an adult, capable of making a convincing analysis.
"My goal, given how I felt at the start," he said, "was to finish the stage. To be honest I have no regrets because I couldn't give more than that, because of the pain I was inIn the fall in Gorizia I hit my iliopsoas, my pelvis may have shifted and I can't push. I gritted my teeth to get here to Bormio and I'm already happy about that.I tried my best to stay on the group's wheels as much as possible, but on the Mortirolo I couldn't do any more than that.
«This morning – he concluded – I woke up feeling much more uncomfortable than on other days. It was probably due to yesterday's effort because I really pushed myself to the limit.. Already after the fall I could see from the numbers that the push of the two legs was not equal, the left one pushed less and that's the part where I hit my hip and I have the wound that has started to bother me."
His Majesty the Mortirolo
Il Mortirolo at least in his case it was decisive, stormed by a crazy crowd of fans, like in the old daysThe Giro is popular. The ups and downs of Del Toro They're making him a fan favorite. Lots of people on bikes, lots of fan clubs, lots of desire to be part of this festive worldPellizzari's attack was impressive, but less incisive than yesterday, on a shorter stage with less elevation gain.
Tomorrow will probably be a sprint, but We'll see some great things on Friday and Saturday. Requested by the media before he returned to the bus, Damiano Caruso has named his favorite for the final victory: Carapaz.
