Barreal appears to be the oldest human settlement in this part of Argentina. From here, the first natives would have then advanced along the Rio San Juan. The village is lively and awaits the sprintOn the horizon the peak of Mercadero appears with its load of snow: It is the second highest peak in the Cordillera, measuring 6.700 metres.The first is Aconcagua at 6.962 meters above sea level.
Bernal does the tests
The group split early. The first mountain grand prix has given wings to Bernal, who had warned us of the attack this morning when we left.
«There wasn't a day when I realized I was back – he said – it's all part of a process that is still ongoing. I have no pain when I pedal, I can do all the movements. And I won't hide from you that before the Colorado High on Friday, I might look for some confirmation».
First his little group, then the massive action of Movistar, Total Energy e Ineos and behind the sprinters they went down. The small group heading into the sprint is around forty strong, and it's clear that men like Gaviria and Sagan will be the ones fighting for the title.
Ganna's Extension
Only at the best moment, While the crowd is about to applaud the sprint, Filippo Ganna attacks from the head of the groupThe team gave him freedom and after verifying that everything was in order for Bernal, the Piedmontese giant attempted a lunge.
"Egan tried to get ahead of the curve to do a test before Colorado," he says, "so we stayed in the first group. As we got closer to the finish line, we said to ourselves that If there had been no attacks, I would have tried in the finalSo far I've always been available, today I had carte blanche. Total Energies and Movistar kept the pace high to prevent the sprinters' teams from returning and At the finish line, two riders with a capital "R" beat meI'm happy with the podium, it was the first sprint finish after helping Elia in the sprints of the past few days. I would also like to do well in the general classification., but on the Colorando there will be lighter riders, I'm too far from them on the climb."
Gaviria Strategy
Ganna attacks and although he still doesn't have the legs of his best days, earn just enough to wake up Sagan and Gaviria, who has a laser-like gaze and when he rejoices he does it like someone who has found something that has been missing for too long.
«This morning – says the Colombian – my idea was to form a small group and reach the finish line calmly. Then the group broke up and Slabs he gave me the green light. I decided to try to get to a less crowded sprint. We did five minutes at the top and it workedThe morale of those behind plummeted and we managed to get there.
«Pippo attacked – he continues – and I knew that if he gained a meter, byeBut he was a gentleman, he didn't push me against the barriers and he took his line correctly. If he had surprised us, there would have been a different podium».
Movistar family
At the finish line, Gaviria mimed the gesture of making a phone call and then he stopped at the end of the road. The sweat stains on his black and blue jersey revealed the heat that had hit the riders today.
"The phone gesture? Ever since I signed the contract," Gaviria says, "this celebration has been in my head. It was my way of thanking Movistar for trusting me.They did a great job today. I'm happy to be here, with these young people who are giving everything for me. The progress I see in them is very important. and the will they have showed me that they want to do things well and that they are happy to learn something new. They deserved me to give my all to get a victory..
«This team is like a big family and They welcomed me incredibly since the first retreat in October in PamplonaThis makes me very happy and makes me give a little more of myself in training and also at the table, because these are details that come back."
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