Hindley climbs the pink jersey, Belluno triumphs in the Giro

FEDAIA PASS. Covi triumphs over Fedaia, Hindley is the new pink jersey. Carapaz has to take it off, to hand it over to the Australian. But on the day when the general classification of the Giro d’Italia explodes, Belluno and its province also win. A spectacular stage, with many fans, beyond the rosiest expectations.

Belluno from the pink jersey, but not only the capital. Lots of people along the roads of the penultimate stage of the Giro d’Italia. Those who left the house to enjoy the start and those who, on the other hand, had climbed the San Pellegrino, Pordoi and Fedaia passes since Friday and waited for the riders, between a barbecue and a round of prosecco. There are those who even decided to celebrate the bachelor party in the high mountains and then did not go on the run, but will regularly present themselves at the altar by the betrothed. Sober, of course.

In the city, the prologue also went very well, with the flag landed on the listòn in the company of a paratrooper engaged in the international competition, at the city airport “Arturo Dell’Oro”. And then the Pink Night, with shopping and an aperitif in the historic center. Many people had flocked to the streets of the center, while the tried and tested machine of the Giro d’Italia was already starting up.

This morning the people of Belluno woke up colored in pink. A walk, on foot or by bicycle, to reach the center again, with the mobile phone loaded, in anticipation of all the videos that necessarily had to be done. A collection of memories of a stage, which seemed threatened by bad weather, but in reality will be kissed by a shy sun for its entire duration. Not a drop, much less a snowflake. Ball music in the parlor and a whole liturgy to be respected before the start of the stage. From the baptism with the champion Stefania Constantini, gold medalist at the Olympics in curling, to the awarding of the policemen Marco Levis, Fabrizio Intini and Fabio Di Lenardo, “heroes of safety”.

Then the signature of the riders, which is the prologue to the start: Richard Carapaz is the most applauded of all, with his pink jersey. At 12.15, the departure with a bathing pace on the porphyry cubes up to kilometer zero of Villa Buzzati, where the real start of the stage was set.

The fatigue can begin, even if the emotional drive of the people helps a lot. There are people everywhere, with flags often never seen on the streets of Belluno. It crosses over into Trentino and the music and the passion are the same. Attacks Covi, who greets everyone, starting with the group in the pink jersey Richard Carapaz.

But it is missing a lot and the fact of having kept the first place on the Pordoi means little. On the Fedaia, Novak comes dangerously close and Nibali makes a good impression on him. He must also do something Carapaz, in order not to lose the shirt, in view of the time trial in Verona.

On both sides of the road, an incredible crowd of fans, who, however, respect the effort of the runners and do not get too close. On the asphalt, the writings with the most passionate and incredible paint, some in the name of the most driven student spirit. Hindley also arrives, proving to be among the strongest on the climbs.

But Covi resists and at the last kilometer he is still in front of everyone, while Carapaz seems to be in serious trouble. Vince Alessandro Covi, who still has the strength to smile and raise his right arm. An extraordinary feat, ahead of Novak, while the Australian Hindley gets his hands on the pink jersey, taking it away from Carapaz. And tomorrow the time trial in Verona.