Committed to planning meticulously the feat of the century which will be broadcast today in the double climb of Monte Grappa, after 18 days spent raising hell on the plains, uphill and even in the sprint, Martian Pogacar allowed himself a day of total relaxation yesterday. Twelve of them took advantage of it (stirred by the usual, possessed man Alaphilippe) stepping on the pedals so hard as to impede poor Jonathan Milan the ancient and noble stopover with relatives in his native village decorated in cyclamen, like his shirt. Parents and grandparents didn’t take it well.
First in Bagno di Romagna in 2021, first yesterday in total solitude welcomed by a long passionate kiss (“Ah, did you see it on TV? Everything is legitimate: I confirm that it is my girlfriend, her name is Letizia” explained), Vendrame has been for five seasons emigrated to France («When I arrived at Decathlon I tried to explain what it means to be “Razza Piave”: now they understood it»): hero of the day, he welcomed with a tear medal and flowers reserved for the winner. First four years ago at the Breton Tro-Bro Léon, one of the toughest cycling races in the world, he had refused the little pig (alive) intended for the winner: «It was a native species – he explained – and it wouldn’t have grown well in Treviso, so I gave it to a local runner».
Giro d’Italia: today the 20th stage, the last mountain one
Friuli closed (the pink group reached 15’36”), today the Giro faces the last mountain stage, the hardest and also the one with the most original design with the double climb to the legendary Monte Grappa from the tough side of Semonzo, dear to the country, very strict with those who pedal. There have been no doubts about how things will go from day one. «It’s a climb that I like very much – a lively Pogacar reiterated yesterday -, there will also be a lot of Slovenian fans and with the team we will try not to disappoint them.” It remains to be understood how the Martian will want to implement his triumphal plan.
Among the hypotheses there are the devastating attack (attack on the first pass, 100 km from the finish line), the monstrous one (starting with momentum on the first descent) or the ordinary one (for him), with a sprint on the last ascent and then a triumphal nosedive towards Bassano and its Alpine Bridge. Almost eight minutes behind the leader maximo in the general classification, within just 186″, the Colombian Martinez, the old Thomas (after a clumsy slide yesterday Pogi authoritatively stopped the group), the Australian O ‘Connor and our Tiberi, who looks forward but also behind him to prevent Arensman from snatching his white jersey as the best youngster. Trouble.
