Ciccone, enterprise, redemption and leave to Cogne

The Trek rider from Abruzzo detaches his escape companions on the final climb. “I saw the real Ciccone again” he says at the finish. Carapaz and the other big names let it go

COGNE. The blow after the Blockhaus had been strong. Because that was his mountain. Up there he trains often, from up there you can see his Chieti.
Nothing more than 9 minutes on the back, ranking in smoke, a week spent between bringing up bad luck and helping the teammate Juan Pablo Lopez to Trek in pink jersey. Then yesterday, in the shadow of the Gran Paradiso in Cogne, one step away from the wonderful Lillaz waterfalls, in that Val d’Aosta where he had begun to show his talent by winning the prestigious stage race for under 23, Ciccone took the lights of the scene.

He won a stage with tenacity, intelligence, legs, back to those of the best days, like when in 2016 in Sestola he defeated the group as a neo-professional or, in 2019, he won the Mortirolo fraction, won the blue jersey or, in the Tour de France, he also dressed in yellow for a day.

Ciccone has slipped into a large escape that has obtained free exit. The pink jersey Richard Carapaz, crashed at the beginning of the stage (nothing serious), found his lost Ineos in Turin, and checked. The others too, up and down from Superga on Saturday the effort had been a lot and then the long final climb towards Cogne certainly did not have the suitable slopes for decisive attacks.
So the limelight was taken by “Cicco”. On the Verrogne he sifted through the group on the run, then, as soon as the last climb began, in the only kilometers of challenging slopes he weakened everyone’s resistance. The last to give was Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain).
And for Giulio as he approached the finish line the party began. Then the tears. «It was one of the days in which I felt like Giulio Ciccone».

Bam, the Abruzzese went straight to the point. Because for years the captain of the Trek is expected as the Messiah for the blue ambitions in the great tape races. Bad luck, falls, black days: at 27 Ciccone is still waiting to understand where he can really get. «But don’t say that I am the heir of Vincenzo Nibali“, He says. And again: «It was the best victory. True, I had gone very badly at the Blockhaus and was running into the house. But the troubles had begun before the Giro with Covid, bronchitis, antibiotics, in short, the plans for the Giro that went up in smoke ». He hugs his friend and former pink jersey Lopez.

Good boy. “Cicco” is one who never gives up. He knows how to recover, he has talent and the blue jersey of best climber (passed yesterday on the Dutchman’s shoulders Koen Bowman from those of Diego Rose) and another stop may be within your reach from here to Verona. Bravo the other Italian, Luca Covili (Bardiani), sixth.

Seven minutes after Ciccone the group of the best arrived in Cogne. For them the showdown – eye to the East they will not find more heat and sun than the last few days but fresh air and pure rain – is in sight.

Monday 24 May rest in Salò, tomorrow the stage of Aprica. In a group, quiet, too Vincenzo Nibali. From champion to champion, the two-time world champion was at the finish line yesterday Paolo Bettini. Who gives the Shark an advice, also going against the tide: «Another podium at the Giro? No, I tell Nibali that he is a champion: Vincenzo either try the shot to win another Giro or decide to get out of the standings and then close with a great feat in the mountains ». Advice, nothing more. The Shark and his legs will decide. So far steel.

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