ALPE DI MOTTA. The most beautiful Giro d’Italia finale at Alpe Motta under the gold leaf statue of Our Lady of Europe inaugurated in 1958 by the future Pope Montini. A flood of people watched the victory of Damiano Caruso, the luxury wingman from Bahrain, who became a racing captain and was able to paint a masterpiece in the last mountain stage.
A well-deserved victory after a brilliant attack that began in the Piccolo San Bernardino descent, the first of three ascents of the day. And on the Alp there is another winner, announced: Egan Bernal. Check, stretch in the final on Simon Yates (Exchange) and, on the eve of the time trial in Milan – a very flat 30 km from Senago -, quadruple the final victory. Thus, the Giro has become, above all thanks to the Sicilian from Ragusa – in love with his land, the son of a former policeman who in the 1980s also escorted Judge Falcone – the race of the Italians.
Pello Bilbao shot the capotano Caruso and the group with Bardet
The masterpiece began in the descent of the San Bernardino in Switzerland, a binge of straights and hairpin bends with still abundant snow around. Caruso, second at 2’29 ”, backed by Pello Bilbao, sling behind Romain Bardet (DSN), who wants to make up ground.
Unexpected, brilliant attack, yes perhaps even risky. But this, goodbye, isn’t that what people like?
They go to take the 5 fugitives and continue their action also on the Spluga Pass. Attacking is better than chasing, the Sicilian hope of Italy knows he is risking big. Because behind it is the usual Ineos with the pink jersey who squeezes his praetorians one by one. With the usual coldness.
In front of the train gains, still between straights and hairpin bends. Still in the snow, well over two thousand. Up to 41 ”at gpm, the ancient Bear Pass, 30 km from the end. And it rains. There is no sun like at Sega di Ala and Alpe di Mera.
Bernal’s Ineos train at Alpe di Motta
Caruso is fine, long before the step he puts on his cape. Descent and final blow: just over seven km up towards Alpe Motta, road carved into the rock, tunnels, hairpin bends. Not impossible, but decisive.
That Caruso starts with a 40 ”margin over his rivals. Perfect tactics, a genius, nothing but. The Sicilian, born in 1987, never a victory in the Giro but, beware, already a top ten in the Tour, thanks as a great gentleman Pello when the Spaniard can’t take it anymore, and gives up Baardet.
It is an extraordinary ending, the people, many, many who have climbed the Alpe since the morning even by bike or with the funicular that pierces the mountain, are in ecstasy. Like the city Davide Cassani, who, on the Rai bike, at a certain point supports him and is moved. Behind Yates, striker “in pectore”, instead cue. Martinez finishes his task (and the same incredibly third will arrive), Bernal checks at the last kilometer and Caruso, on the final straight, watched from above by the imposing statue of the Madonna, enjoys the success of the stage in the pink and above all armored race second place. He now has a 1’24 ”lead over Yates and is faster than the Englishman against the clock. He is happy, almost incredulous. The city bike arrives and hugs him.
“In those last 200 meters I thought about a thousand things, about my family, about my agent Maurio Battaglini who is no longer there, about my team, then about myself, who worked hard: I’m the happiest man in the world“, He says. «I didn’t think of winning, but km after km I decided to go to the bottom and not frustrate the great work that Pello had done: 70% of the victory is his». Read the ending «I champion? If my father was sacrificed for one million and 200 thousand lire a month, I can do it too, because before a runner I want to be a good person. I am 33 years old, but I can still give so much with a new awareness ». What more is there to add?
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