FANO – An author’s signature for one of the most beautiful stages of the 2024 Giro. Julian Alaphilippe broke an almost year-long curse and put to rest the many controversies of recent months by winning alone at the finish line of Fano after an overwhelming action, like a great champion. The Frenchman, twice world champion in 2020 and 2021, broke away early and with 126 km to go found himself in front together with an extraordinary Mirco Masters (Polti-Kometa): the two went in great agreement on a nervous route, complicated by the famous walls of the Marche. And right on the last one, the Monte Giove climb, Lou Lou broke away from Maestri and took off all alone towards the finish line. Another very fast fraction, at an average of 46.7. Behind great control among the big names, but no attack: Pogacar doesn’t have to sweat to keep his pink jersey.
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The race soon explodes, a large group of over 30 runners leaves from which Julian Alaphilippe and Mirco Maestri soon isolate themselves, 126 km from the finish. The Polti-Kometa rider runs into difficulty on the Ostra wall, but keeps the wheels of the two-time world champion. Also in the group of 30 are Pozzovivo, Hirt and Piganzoli, potentially dangerous for the top of the rankings. So it is Bahrain that takes charge of the chase, even if the advantage reaches up to 6 minutes. The work of Tiberi’s team significantly reduces the delay of the pink jersey group, while Alaphilippe and Maestri remain fighting with 1’20” on the first pursuers, about ten, including Narvaez and Trentin. On the very hard climb of Monte Giove, 11 km from the finish, Alaphilippe abandons Maestri and goes away, but behind him the Narvaez-Hermans pair is created. But there is nothing to be done: Lou Lou wins, arriving all alone and having time to celebrate after a very difficult year: his last victory dates back to June 2023. In second place, about thirty seconds away, Narvaez and Hermans , and everyone hugs Alaphilippe upon arrival. Alaphilippe beamed at the end: “I’m very happy. I hadn’t expected to start like this, I want to congratulate Maestri. We worked together very well from the beginning. The heart made the difference. I always continued to believe in trying to get back to my best. What I gave is the best answer. It’s one of the best victories of my career.” Nothing happened among the top of the ranking, everything unchanged. Now another stage for sprinters, arriving in Cento, before the time trial on Lake Garda on Saturday. Pogacar was also satisfied: “Very interesting day, very beautiful and difficult route. I preferred this than the Francavilla stage. When fighting for the pink jersey, today was not a stage in which you could fight. Nice that Alaphilippe won, a monumental day on his part.”
