Jonathan Milan between the Aurelia and the sea

The Giro d’Italia can be told in many ways, here we decided to follow the effort of the riders by the metre, one word by the kilometre. It’s the turn of the fourth stage of the pink race, the Acqui Terme-Andora, 190 kilometers, in 190 words.

The Aurelia follows the sea without ever reaching it, it barely touches it, it keeps it to the left and looks beyond. Every now and then the sea reaches her on stormy days, but it is little more than a brush. Aurelia resembles a runner on the run, one of those who wander for a long time trying to escape the embrace of the group, dreaming of being the first to pass under the finish banner without ever being able to reach it. Or almost never. It happens every now and then, even on the Aurelia.

Yesterday wasn’t the day.

The Aurelia did not meet the sea, the fugitives did not encounter the joy of crossing the finish line first, even if for only five kilometres: De Bod and Muñoz made the sprinters’ companions sweat it out for recovery.

And so yesterday too the Aurelia which goes fast, as Jean-Louis Trintignant claimed – and not just referring to the Lancia – rewarded the fastest of the runners, men who were so elusive that they transformed into a colorful whirlwind towards the finish line. And this despite Ganna’s desperate attempt to overturn the obvious.

Nothing to do. Extended group, sprint launched, victory by Jonathan Milan.