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“Leone” Bettiol show before the showdown

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Bettiol first in Stradella

The Tuscan, king of Flanders 2019, is the strongest in Stradella among the twenty-three on the run. Bernal, Caruso and Yates at “rest”: now 3 decisive stages

STRADELLA. Two years ago, the Tuscan Alberto Bettiol, 27 years old from EF, was the lion of Flanders, a talent to spare, many injuries and only three victories. The third, after Flanders and a stage of the Etoile de Besseges, was obtained on Thursday in Stradella, the eighteenth stage.

“Thanks to the team and my captain Carthy, he had a bad day on Wednesday and I helped him in Sega di Ala, here he gave me the green light to go on the run.”

The emotion of Bettiol

Attack of 23 riders, including Diego Ulissi (Uae) and Andrea Vendrame (Ag2r). The group lets it go, the big names from Egan Bernal (Ineos) to Damiano Caruso (Bahrain) to Simon Yates (Exchange) think about the showdown between Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Milan, Peter Sagan (Bora) to put the cyclamen jersey in safe stopping intentions of attack of the second in the standings Davide Cimolai (Israel).

Ahead for 200 km you fly in a double row of love and agreement, then, when the Po Valley gives way to the wonderful hills of the Oltrepo Pavese, the battle begins. Remy Cavagna (Deceuninck), French with legs of steel, starts like a bullet. He believes it, it’s nice to see in the saddle. He has to overcome three snatches in the final.

First two ok, on the third he sees Bettiol pass him at double speed. Only in this way can he win. Two years ago he went to Fiandre on the Vecchio Kwaremont, making half of Italy jump in front of the TV; yesterday shot, fight on the edge of seconds, finish line and tears. For his agent Mauro Battaglini, a friend of cycling, a real person who has been gone for a year.

«I can only win in this way», says the Tuscan from Castel Fiorentino, who thanks the team for the “free exit”. It is his is a victory for Italian cycling which, stage after stage in this Giro, is raising its head to the sound of results. There are the Olympics, Bettiol, as well as Ulissi, also in Stradella on the ball, and in Damiano Caruso (Bahrain), are sparkling in front of the citizen Davide Cassani, who takes notes on the Rai bike.

While the winner celebrates, the group comfortably crosses the finish line at 23 and a half minutes.
That it ended like this was clear from the spectacular departure from the Mart in Rovereto, where Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck) did not show up, forced to get up white after the fall on Wednesday, while Giulio Ciccone ( Trek) also out due to injury. At the start, however, Vincenzo Nibali for whom respect for the pink race is worth much more than the many pains.

Stradella is the country of the accordion. Bettiol played great on Thursday, now it’s up to the big names to do it. Even without the Mottarone, dutifully cut after the tragedy of the cable car, on Friday there will be a tough stage with the climbs of the Colma and above all the final at Alpe di Mera. Almost 10 km at 9% average gradient in 176 km. Simon Yates is 3’23 ”from the pink jersey: if he really wants to try to win the Giro he must attack and hope that the Colombian is the faded one on Wednesday.

«I tried to recover as much as possible even though the stage was long. I play the Giro in three days: on Alpe di Mera, in Piedmont where I will have many of my fans, then on Saturday another tough stage, then the time trial. I have a good advantage, I have to run with my head but I haven’t won anything yet, I hope I don’t lose too much », said the leader. Put your hands forward? And Caruso, shut up, second at 2’21 “? Bernal respects him a lot (“I’d be happy if he finished on the podium”, he tells him), the Sicilian is ready for battle: «I’m having a great experience, I have an opportunity to exploit and I want to live it to the end. Any mistake can be fatal because now I am the leader of the team ».

Watch out for the loose cannon Joao Almeida (Deceuninck), 8th at 8’45 “but on the ball. And at the time, decent Friday, ugly Saturday again. Let us have fun.

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See also  Bernal, a leap to Pantani to mortgage the pink jersey

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