TOPS
“I ride my bike to win.” After almost a year without the slightest success – his last one dates back to June 6, 2023 on the Critérium du Dauphiné (stage 2) – Julian Alaphilippe rediscovered the taste of victory Thursday during the 12th stage of the Tour of Italy between Martinsicuro and Fano. After an extraordinary raid of 126 kilometers with his breakaway companion, Mirco Maestri, the Frenchman from the Soudal Quick-Step team got rid of the Italian to raise his arms alone. “Ah, it feels good!”, he said upon arrival. “Alaf” wanted to thank his teammate for a day by offering him the jersey he wore during his victory. Undisputed leader of the general classification, Tadej Pogacar praised the performance of Julian Alaphilippe. “The way he ran, it’s crazy. It was a magnificent escape and only great champions can run like that,” said Slovenian. The 31-year-old rider became the 10th Frenchman to win at least one stage on the three major Tours (Giro, Tour de France and Vuelta) – the last one was Thibaut Pinot.
The last to speak about the Frenchman’s victory, Marion Rousse – his partner – shared her joy. “It had (the victory at the Tour of Italy, editor’s note) a particular flavor in fact, it is different from all the others because the emotion is not the same. Before, he won ten races a year, now it has become rarer, so we benefit from it differently. She then returned to her companion’s champion mentality. I saw him sad sometimes, but he never doubted. I saw him go shopping with a smile, I sometimes wondered what could be going through his mind because he seemed so detached from the outside environment. But he always had the same speech: “I ride my bike to win, not to make up the numbers.”
One more victory for the Paret-Peintre brothers. A year after that of his elder Aurélien on the Italian roads, Valentin Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) won the 10th stage of the Giro at the top of Bocca della Selva – the first of his professional career – ahead of his compatriot Romain Bardet , 7th overall. “I can’t describe how I feel, it’s amazing! I was in the breakaway to get a good result and why not victory. And I’m signing my first professional victory on a Grand Tour, it’s exceptional. Looking at the profile of the race, I knew I had to attack in the last four kilometers because that was the hardest part, and that’s what I did, he enthused after his victory before expressing his joy. Winning the Giro a year after my brother is special. Last year, when he won his stage, my name was written by mistake on the champagne bottle. This time, I am truly the winner.” This victory highlighted the rider but also the bike brand.
“The results of the Savoyard team speak for it and its new mount, provided this winter by Van Rysel, a Decathlon brand, new sponsor [of the French team, Editor’s note]”, you could read in the newspaper L’Équipe from May 16. Just a coincidence? Or reality? For Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team rider Larry Warbasse, the bikes “are just a symbol of change.” Regardless, his victories are successful for the brand. “The way we look at the brand has completely changed thanks to our partners and their victories,” Nicolas Pierron, boss of the brand, told RMC Sport. We are facing a certain shortage which is not wanted.” To afford this “very aerodynamic” professional bike, you have to pay 9,000 euros and be patient.
Unbeatable during the first week of racing, the Slovenian is still just as unbeatable before this second day of rest. Tadej Pogacar won the 15th stage – his 4th in this Tour of Italy – with disconcerting ease. At the finish, the UAE rider admitted to having ticked off this stage for a long time: “It’s one of the best days of my career. We had this step in mind since December. I gave everything in the last fifteen kilometers. I am very happy to win the main stage in Livigno, one of my favorite places in Italy.” In the general classification, he increased his lead over Geraint Thomas. 6 minutes 41 separate the two men before the third week of racing and the final arrival in Rome on May 26.
The Cyclamen jersey for best sprinter sticks to his skin. Jonathan Milan seems untouchable and disgusts his competitors, who are fighting for the purple tunic. With three victories during this 107th edition of the Tour of Italy, the Lidl Trek rider is – behind Pogacar – the rider who has won the most stages. In the ranking of the best sprinter, the Italian is 109 points ahead of Kaden Govres. He has 284 against 175 for the Australian from Alpecin – Deceuninck.
FLOPS
Times are tough for the defending team – Primoz Roglic won the 2023 edition of the Tour of Italy. Deprived of its leaders on the transalpine roads, the Visma Lease a Bike team fielded a team, which remained competitive with great cards to play. After the abandonment of Robert Gesink and Christophe Laporte last week, the Dutch team once again lost two riders. Its sprinter, Olav Kooij – winner of the 9th stage, was in a feverish state. Also ill, Cian Uijtdebroeks gave up on Wednesday. “Due to illness I have to leave the Giro d’Italia. Thanks to the team for the incredible support. You are all heroes to me, he wrote before expressing his sadness. There are no words to describe my disappointment right now.” First runner of the Visma, Atilla Valter ranks 27th overall.
Mythical pass and culmination of this 107th edition of the Giro, the Stelvio will not be surveyed by the peloton. The news was announced on Tuesday by the organizers. “Recent snowfall followed by a warm spell has increased the risk of avalanches,” she explained. Initially planned for the 16th stage, the climb of Stelvio – a summit perched at an altitude of 2,758m – is replaced by the Giogà di Santa Maria.