PERGOLA – «Given the stage that awaited us today – says Ganna – yesterday I heard from Geraint ThomasI asked him if, in his vast experience, I should hold on or if it wouldn't be better to start recovering. He said: "Filippo, with the condition you have, even if you work an extra day, it doesn't change anything for you.. If you're tired next week, stay in bed one more day. Holding on any longer won't make it go away. the condition for Sanremo". I think I worked well to get here, I don't know how many on the last climb exceeded 80 kilosI want to thank the team for the whole week, also “Kwiato"who stopped due to knee problems. We're happy to have honored the jersey so far. Anyway, I saw the Adriatic," he laughs, "we started from the Tyrrhenian Sea, I've done my part..."
The shirt never at risk
For a few minutes there actually was the doubt that Ganna could have lost his jerseyFirst virtually, for all the kilometers in which the stage winner Dversnes had a lead of more than a minute. And then at the finish, where the leader of the Tirreno-Adriatico it passed 41 seconds laterFortunately, a rereading of the final results revealed that he had lost ground due to a mechanical problem in the final three kilometers. Therefore, credited with the same time as Van der Poel, who won the sprint for second place, Filippo finished the fifth stage wearing the leader's jersey.
«As I explained, I hit a pothole – he explains – the chain got stuck between the chainring and the frameI pedaled a little too hard and tore the rear derailleur. Luckily, I was within three kilometers. I had already called a judge, but I didn't know if he had seen me or notI held on until the last kilometer when everyone passed me, but I think the problem was obvious."
The stress of the rankings
After the finish line, for a few days now we have been looking at each other with amazement and There's talk of how fast Ganna is going uphill. They attack him and he responds.A giant with strength and a brilliant pedaling frequency. Yesterday he blunted Van der Poel in Trasacco, on a short and steep climb. Today on the hardest climb of Monterolo (3,9 kilometers at 6,7 percent average and peaks at 10,5) he responded to the attack of Ayuso and Pidcock. It's a very confident Ganna who comes to sit next to him, trying to tell his day with the question of questions hanging in the air: will he be able to defend himself tomorrow too? The stage will have just 50 metres more altitude difference than this one, but it ends on the climb of Frontignano (7,7 kilometres at an average gradient of 7,9 percent).
"We certainly worked hard this winter," he says from behind his thick beard, "while last year was a bit of a strange one due to the ailments I had. Luckily I'm happy this year, for now everything is fine, let's hope it can continue like this for at least another week (smiles, the reference is to the Sanremo, ed.). I came to Tirreno for do the time trial well, yet I was also strong in the third and fourth stages, where we showed that we were present as a team. I honestly respect those who make rankings, because it's really stressful.Yesterday, we arrived at the hotel an hour and a half later than planned. Luckily, I had a good driver who saved some time in the car. But staying in the same sweat, cold and rain for a few more hours is not pleasant.But the race and the jersey must be honored and as long as I have it, I will not back down."
Frontignano, Pellizzari's KOM
Tomorrow's stage will not be easy at all: 163 kilometers and an endless series of climbs and steep sections that will end on the summit of Frontignano, in the municipality of UssitaUp there, where until recently people still skied, the climb on paper doesn't allow for great flights of fancy. He remembers it well. Giulio Pellizzari, who we reached by phone while he is still on Teide preparing for his return to Catalunya after the debut in Mallorca. Tomorrow the race will also pass for his Camerino.
«I know Frontignano well – he says – It's my summer gym, but I usually do the slope they'll do tomorrow downhill. I only did it uphill once and set the record, which if I'm not mistaken is about 25 minutes, but tomorrow they'll steal it from me anyway.It's a real climb, from the pass you turn right and then you go up again. I'm afraid it's a climb for AyusoThe stage offers nothing, before reaching the finish there is no flat land. And then with the weather you have now in Italy, guys, how much effort are they making?
The best Ganna uphill?
Is this really the best version of Ganna on the up? He thinks about it and maybe he's not convinced, while realizing that up to now he has defended himself really well on freezing, wet days with a lot of altitude difference: today 3.499 meters.
«2020 is a good comparison – he thinks – I was really going strong and now I'm 5 kilos more than then, because I put on more massEveryone tells me I'm too skinny, but the scales are always at 86 kilos and I'm happy like that. Maybe I'm more relaxed, more aware of the fact that I am in a team that loves me and wants me to continue to grow and aim highI try to do my best for myself and for the team, along with my teammates who really worked hard today, yesterday, the day before yesterday, and again on Tuesday. puccino He fell, but he's here fighting. Connor Swift, Brandon Rivera: everyone is doing their best. to help me and the team do the best we can. I have to say thank you to them and to whoever is in the car who is directing us."
Only the last question will not have an answer: since you will do the Sanremo and then the Roubaix and you do so well on the climbs, we ask him, why not do Flanders in the middle too? “I don’t know,” he says, “I don’t know what to tell you.”
