Here are the statements of some of the main protagonists of the nineteenth stage of the Giro d’Italia 2024from Mortegliano to Sappada, won today by Andrea Vendrame on Pelayo Sanchez And Georg Steinhauser.
Andrea Vendrame: “Special victory after years in which it was missing, I want to maintain this level”
“Today it was obviously fundamental to be able to get into the breakaway, because we knew he would have a lot of chances to go to the finish. In the end I succeeded, in the leading group there were riders of many different types, but all very strong, in particular Alaphilippe, who tried many times today. I wanted to take a bit of a lead before the final climb, and attack is often the best defense, so I managed to take the Sappada climb at my own pace and maintain it.
Winning is really special, there are so many emotions right now. Unfortunately in recent years I have struggled a lot to win, and this has demoralized me a bit. Now I’m happy and I hope I can maintain this level.”
Georg Steinhauser: “Today I didn’t even have to go on the run, little by little I started to feel good”
“Today was a crazy stage. At the beginning I felt bad, and I didn’t even intend to attack, but I was just helping Michael Valgren when suddenly I found myself in the leading group. I only started to feel good when I followed Julian Alaphilippe on the more challenging climbs. Vendrame went very fast, and we weren’t able to chase him effectively. However, I am very happy with my performance. I had a breakaway with big names, and my dreams came true in this Giro.”
Julian Alaphilippe: “My escape companions were more worried about me than about Vendrame”
“Today I really gave everything, so I can’t have any regrets, I really didn’t have any energy left in my legs. Andrea Vendrame had a good descent, but my breakaway companions in the chasing group were more worried about me than him. So it became very difficult to win.”
Tadej Pogacar: “Today we saved, tomorrow I will try to win but it won’t be easy”
“It was a controlled day, in the end it rained and it was a shame. When we waited for Thomas we all waited for him, it was a moment of fair play. We’ll see if we have good legs tomorrow, we saved ourselves today. Winning tomorrow will be tough but we will try, I know there will be a lot of Slovenian fans on Monte Grappa and I can’t wait for tomorrow.”
Geraint Thomas: “The fall was a stupid mistake. Tomorrow will be a great day”
“I looked behind me and the runners in front of me changed direction. I touched Tiberi’s wheel and fell, but luckily I immediately received a replacement bike. I also returned thanks to the wake of the Bora-Hansgrohe flagship. Some old wounds from previous falls reopened with the fall, but there are no serious problems, it was just a stupid mistake. I was afraid that my flagship was far away, but instead she arrived immediately. Tomorrow will be a great day, I will try to earn second place.”
