Two races in one but with one thing in common: the pink jersey. The hamlet of Lago Laceno saw the triumph of Aurelien Paret Peintre and the passing of the symbol of primacy from the shoulders of Remco Evenepoel to the Norwegian Andreas Leknessund.
"Aurelien is fine. He's here to do well and to secure the overall standings," his teammate Andrea Vendrame told us on the eve of the Costa dei Trabocchi time trial. And the rider of the Ag2R-Citroen he played it well.
He was a climber, agile, and took advantage of his breakaway companion's opportunity to grab the pink jersey, who was more generous in his efforts, and took home the most important victory of his career.
Soudal creaks
But Lago Laceno told us one thing above all: Remco Evenepoel there is, his team a little less. It's true that it was raining. It's true that At the beginning the stage was incredibly tough and uncertain, but the fact is that in the final (and not only) the world champion remained alone.
One by one his companions dropped away: some before the last climb, which was also legitimate because they had pushed hard, others earlier.
«It was a very hard day – he tells us Giada Borgato who followed the motorcycle race for RAI – they spent two hours flat on their faces. The first part was all up and down. I saw faces I can't even begin to describe.
«I hope the Soudal boys grow – continues Borgato – but I have serious doubts. Van Wilder and his teammates were already struggling on the first climb. Ballerini was among the very first riders to jump. He was really struggling. He probably paid the price in the previous two stages, which were stressful for them anyway. But ironically, it's understandable that he, a faster sprinter, dropped back early, even if it's strange. Maybe he was having an off day. The problem is that the others immediately left.
«People like Cerny, Serry, Hirt and then also Van Wilder who should be Remco's last man on the climb have dropped away and from what I saw, they had also preserved it. Luckily for them, the breakaway got away, they slowed down, and came back after the first GPM."
Close ranks
The problem is, these aren't hard climbs yet. What will happen when the real climbs arrive? What will happen in three days at Campo Imperatore? The doubts of Lago Laceno are widespread. And all in all they fuel the uncertainty of the Giro d'Italia.
It makes you think about David Bramati, sports director of the Soudal-Quick Step, about what he'll tell his boys this evening during the "room tour." About how to stay calm.
"Brama" spoke of a bad day for his team. Let's be clear, all is not lost. Especially since if there's a strong, calm rider in the peloton, it's Evenepoel. But something must be done.
We must close ranks. Run compactly and hidden. At Soudal-Quick Step, they need to acknowledge the situation. The other teams have done just that. They saw that something could be done. That Remco could be left alone.
"I think," Giada continues, "that Brama has little to say to his guys. In the end, they did their job. Even though they struggled, they controlled the race in the first part. They let the right breakaway go. Then It's the legs that count and if they don't have any, they don't have any….
"Brama was calm. And we know how he is when he's nervous! But he knows exactly what kind of riders he's dealing with. For me today he did well to lose his jersey."
And that's now a given. The risk is that the pink jersey will fall back on him at Campo Imperatore, but for now, that's how it is. And a little less stress doesn't hurt.
Furthermore, it should not be forgotten – and this was wisely reiterated by Borgato herself on live TV – that Soudal-Quick Step has historically been a team for the classics. It's only been a couple of seasons since they've started focusing on the Grand Tours. This metamorphosis takes time. Let's just think about it. UAE Emirates by Pogacar two years ago…
Remco serene
In all this, one wonders how Evenepoel is doing. He seemed relaxed. Attentive. Before the final mountain pass, he secured his jersey with the ease of someone who wasn't at full speed.
«Remco is very calm – continues Borgato – His face was relaxed and his face was beautiful. I saw him at peace, even when he came back to the car to change the tires and pee. He did everything at his own pace, calmly. He didn't have the wide-eyed stare of someone wasting time. And the same thing happened when he returned. He did it without stress. He could have returned on his own..
«Remco talks in a group, jokes with the others. Even today, when he came behind the team car, he exchanged a few words with my driver who is Belgian. He said something like, "My goodness, what a drag." A bit like Caruso: "Is the transfer over? When does the escape start?"
Ineos stronger
Lago Laceno also told us that la Ineos-Grenadiers it's the strongest team. In addition to the two leaders, Thomas and Geoghegan Hart, there were three gregarious members on the final climb, and another had dropped out just 4 kilometers from the summit. Meanwhile, Puccio and Ganna had moved to the foot of the climb and only after completing their work.
Judging by Giada's words—Remco was already alone after the first climb—one wonders why they didn't attack him. Was it a missed opportunity?
«They didn't attack him for several reasons in my opinion – explains Borgato – first because we were far from the finish line. And then also there Jumbo Visma It's shaky. But for them, the story is a little different. They lost players like Gesink and Foss to Covid, and Tratink to an accident on the eve of the Giro. I got a good look at Kuss today, but Oomen barely managed to stay afloat. Maybe they, who were called up at the last minute and are climbers, can improve along the way.
«And they didn't attack him because we're at the start of the Giro and for me making such efforts could be risky».
Attack failed?
In fact, for a "Turin 2022" coup, strong and compact teams were needed and outside of Ineos it seems there aren't any in the group for now. Bora-Hansgrohe, which all in all appeared to be in good condition, to make such an attack would have had to sacrifice its second leader, Kamna.
Konrad is fine, but try to protect him. While I've often seen Jungles struggle. Denz drops off as soon as he hits a climb, and Benedetti is also more suited to the flats. And again: today's climbs were rideable, they went up very fast. I think we need something more to break away from Remco."
