From the cloud of dust, at the end of the sixth stage of the Giro, emerge an ecstatic Spaniard, Pelayo Sanchez of Movistar capable of keeping the vintage greatness of Alaphilippe behind him at the top of a three-way breakaway with the Australian Plapp, and a listless Slovenian , Tadej Pogacar, the leader who remains leader despite himself: «On the dirt roads I had considered giving up the jersey – he reveals -, the strategy of the day was not to start any dangerous sprints: UAE controlled the race perfectly, I had accepted that Plapp would go in the squad because it would have saved me some time and interviews. It didn’t happen.”
He was in the virtual squad, Luke Plapp from Melbourneadventure companion of an escape that reached the target through 180 kilometers of which 12 of postcard dirt roads, the Crete Senesi in the background, the beauty of a hilly hamlet designed to become epic, instead it was “only” spectacular. Strade Bianche perfumetaste of dirt in the mouth, forbidden to drink so as not to take your hands off the handlebars, forbidden to get wet so as not to risk becoming a gray mask.
Those three in front (Sanchez, Alaphilippe, Plapp, mentioned in order of arrival) do not worry the best, who saves himself for the time trial (the verb is used inappropriately: «I have never tackled a race in a conservative way in my life» explains Taddeo), allowing himself to be pulled by an Ineos who are interested in ensuring that the old Thomas does not lose any more ground (the 46″ gap from the leader has been confirmed); Sanchez’s attack 4.5 km from the finish line in Rapolano sounds the alarma skirmish breaks out in the pink jersey group but it is very short, the time of a sneeze (the dust).
After the Pievina climb (the last sector of dirt road, the only new one) the road flattens out, then goes up again but the game is over: Sanchez has the spark that Alaphilippe hasn’t found since the Dauphiné, Pogacar is relaxed, Thomas is there. And the young Cian Uijtdebroeks, 21 years old, from Belgium with fury, confirms himself as a podium man (fifth in the general classification).
It was a very feared stage (ruinous fall for veteran Damiano Caruso), but the caiman had time to wander in his mind: «Today I had the Tour clearly in mind.” says Pogi. It’s an admission of guilt: he conserved energy for today’s uphill time trial (last 6 km with a significant climb, up to 16%, and bike change) and put some in his suitcase for France. The leader has not been measured with time since the World Cup in Glasgow, where he was a flop (21st): he took almost 3 ‘from Filippo Ganna. Even clocks have memory.
