NOVARA. Mat for sprinters, only the first sprint of the Giro? Not at all, the second stage of the pink race went beyond the sprint won by one of the most anticipated runners, the 28-year-old Belgian from Alpecin-Fenix Tim Merlier. Because in the last kilometers before the epilogue at 70 per hour the chess game for the final classification has also begun.
Filippo Ganna, the Ineos jet, the pink jersey won in the time trial wants to defend it as much as possible. For this reason, 25 km from the end, he even sprinted at the flying finish line to take the 3 ”bonus.
And behind him in that sprint? Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck), more than ever determined to fight for just two small seconds.
Ganna, second day in pink
It is clear, the 21-year-old “predestined” will not be satisfied with leaving his mark here and there in this Giro in which he is making his debut, otherwise what would be the point of making a sprint like that? Then in the excited final, when the sprint trains were competing for the positions that count in view of the sprint up to sixty per hour, Egan Bernal crouched at the “locomotive” to keep out of trouble too. Which therefore points high, it is clear, beyond the back pain.
In short, the Giro has just begun, only on Monday there will be the first hills, but the chess game for the pink jersey of Milan has already begun. For now on the hunt for an ounce of seconds, waiting for the climbs to turn seconds into minutes.
Ganna is fine, it is now clear, before wearing the pink jersey on the podium for the second day she was also able to send her best wishes to mother Daniela on live TV.
The Nizzolo helmet with self-certification
On Monday, on the hills leading to Canale d’Alba, he will already have to keep his eyes open because many will want to parade him the symbol of primacy.
The jet man from Verbania, Ganna, Bernal, Evenepoel. Before, up to 25 km from the finish the scene was taken by the first three fugitives of Giro 104: Filippo Tagliani (Androni Sidermec), Umberto Marengo (Bardiani) and Vincenzo Albanese (Eolo). Three Italian professional teams, called precisely to move the race and immediately “in the trenches”.
After that “enlightening” flying goal, the great ball of the sprinters. Of level.
Very long and light straight, but very sweet but endless curve to the right before the epilogue.
It was understood in the “reconnaissance” two hours before the finish: the riders would not have seen the banner up to 100 meters from the finish.
The victory of the Belgian over Nizzolo from the photo finish
Consonni (Cofidis) drives Elia Viviani well. Sebastian Molano (UAE) does the same for Gaviria, but then presses the captain to the barriers, ready as he is about to launch the sprint to 350 meters. From behind Merlier falls, holding his right and making the comeback of Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Segafredo), champion of Europe and Italy, useless, as can be understood from the helmet, in which, to exorcise the danger of viruses, he had a copy of a completed self-certification with final destination in Milan and Giro force majeure.
Then Elia Viviani (Covidis), then Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo) at the first sprint after the 9-month disqualification for causing Jacobsen’s terrifying fall in Poland. “It is the first victory in a great stage race in my first Giro”, the Belgian explains radiantly.
He is a really strong one because a certain Mathieu Van der Poel lends himself to throwing him in the sprints, if he is in the race. We understood each other.
Ah, fifth was Peter Sagan (Bora). We play a chip: in the third stage on the Roero hills they will have to deal with him.
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