CESANO MADERNO – A sharp attack on a right-hand bend and they didn't see him again until the finish line. Nico Denz takes home his third stage at the Tour of Italy and the first for the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in this edition. After crossing the final line, he can barely believe it, slams his bike down by the top of the handlebars, and grits his teeth.
The Austrian team after many problems and some unfortunate blows manages to conquer what was considered the minimum objective when the group was in AlbaniaAs the days went by, it became clear that it wouldn't be easy. Roglic in the arrival of tagliacozzo he was outsmarted and outmanned by AyusoThe breakaway arrived in Asiago, but the Slovenian gave in, remaining outside the leading group.
Leaders at home
At one point it was thought that the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe Giro had crumbled due to the fragility of Roglic and the bad luck of Hindley. When the two designated captains retired, everything changed in the minds of those who remained.The first to give such a signal was the young Pellizzari, on the same stage where Roglic raised the white flag. The attack of the Marche native on the climb of San Valentino he fired up the fans' spirits But for a team that wants to win and has invested to do so, a third place is not enough, even if it is ambitious and looks to the future.
«We had started this Giro – he says with a red face due to the heat that exploded yesterday in the race – with the idea of winning with Roglic or HindleyThen, when both were forced to retire, things changed. Our sporting director, Christian Pomer, looked at me and said that stage 18, yesterday's, would be perfect for my characteristics. Before then we were not focused on a stage victory».
What did Hindley and Roglic's retirements mean to you?
It's not just two riders going home, but also of dreams that end and a lot of work we did on the front lines that, in the end, was for nothing. If you choose to be sad about this, then you get depressed and do nothing.On the contrary, if you decide to fight, and that's what we have done and will do, something beautiful can happen.
How important is yesterday's success for the team?
So much. Yesterday's victory means that every rider here is capable of doing well and The strength of Red Bull-BORA is not limited to one man aloneIt's a characteristic we've been able to demonstrate in recent days. We never gave up.
Yours may be the only victory for you.
Maybe, but it arrived, and it was important to react after some difficult days. We did it well.
Two important and challenging stages are coming up. Will you support Pellizzari?
Clear (he says without even having time to process the question, ed.). Giulio is doing a fantastic job And yes, he'll have all the support we can give him. What I can do for him is mostly concentrated in the initial stages of the stage. Obviously we will try to give him the same help that Roglic would have had., so that he can have the chance to get the best possible result.
What goals will you have now?
We have no more obligations from now on, we have won a stage. In short, we can only have fun and enjoy the race.
