Julien Alaphilippe it sets no limits. Although many would have advised him to go away in the company of Mirco Masters (Team Polti-Kometa) after a crazy start, the Frenchman prevailed in the twelfth stage of Tour of Italy with arrival at Fano.
The start was at high speed due to the possibility that the breakaway could reach the finish line and for this reason the group experienced a particularly tense first hour.
At that point they took off Julien Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) e Mirco Masters (Team Polti-Kometa).
The tandem managed to gain a lead of over five minutes over the group while a platoon of thirty-six riders formed behind them, determined to get back on the pacesetters.
Although logic would have led the Frenchman and the Emilian to get up and continue with the remaining fugitives, the two continued by mutual agreement, forcing the pursuers to battle and divide with Christian Scaroni (Astana Qazaqstan Team), Jonathan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers), Dion Smith (Intermarchè-Wanty), Simon Clarke (Israel – Premier Tech), Gijs Leemreize (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL), Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost), Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck) e Matteo Trentin (Tudor Pro Team) capable of staying at the front.
Although they were greater in number, Alaphilippe and Maestri continued in command until wall of Mount Jupiter where the former world champion launched the decisive attack, while Hermans and Narvaez stretched behind trying to play for the last chances of victory.
However, the Frenchman did not give up, anticipating Narvaez and Hermans who shared the podium, while Scaroni did not go beyond fifth place.
Some skirmishes between the ranking men with Bahrain-Victorius Antonio Tiberi who tried to exploit the lateral wind on the plains to try to open a fan without however succeeding.
This led Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and the big names all together on the final climb, allowing the Slovenian to maintain a lead of 2’40”. Daniel Martinez (Bora-Hansgrohe) and 2’56” up Geraint Thomas (Ineos-Grenadiers).
