Twenty years ago, May 11th was a Tuesday and the third stage of the Giro took the riders from Pontremoli to Corno alle Scale, the mountain in the Bolognese Apennines dear to Enzo Biagi, who was born in those parts, and to Alberto Tomba, who learned to ski up there. At the start, the pink jersey is worn by Australian sprinter Bradley McGee. But he already knows that that color will only be his one day. In fact, the final climb – 12.8 km with an average gradient of 6% and sections even at 14% – is something for climbers. And, in this case, it marks the fate of that Giro, even if with 17 stages still to be done it would be too early to say.
the attack
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In fact, it happens that Damiano Cunego, fourth in the standings 37″ behind McGee, at a certain point takes the initiative to go on the run together with the Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovich. 4 km left to the finish line. And there would be nothing strange – the Veronese is 22 years old and very talented – if it weren’t for the fact that the captain of his Saeco is Gilberto Simoni, who is here to score a hat trick at the Giro after the triumphs of 2001 and 2003. The attack of Damiano, who can go to the squad, irritates Gibo. Who fears this eventuality, because it would shift some of the balance within his team. So, 3 km from the finish line, the Trentino rider leaves the pack of the first pursuers, catches up with his teammate and without even looking at him, goes off alone to go on to win by 15” over Cunego himself and take the pink jersey. “Damiano? He’s young, he’s done his job, his time will come” Simoni cuts short at the finish line, just to make it clear who’s in charge.
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the happy ending
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Damiano’s moment, however, will arrive much earlier than Gibo expected: just four days later, in Montevergine di Mercogliano. Where the Little Prince takes stage and jersey, reversing the roles. Then two more successes will arrive, in Falzes and Bormio, to decree the passing of the baton: Cunego wins the Giro, Simoni finishes third at 2’05”. And he won’t be able to get a hat trick at the Giro again.
