Dutch sprinter Charlotte Kool bounced back from a bad crash on the previous stage to win the final stage at the Ford RideLondon Classique on The Mall on Sunday. Kool (Team DSM) also cemented her win of the race overall, 11#” ahead of American Chloe Dygert (Canyon//SRAM Racing) who swapped places on GC with Elizabeth Deignan (Trek – Segafredo) after the Brit after time bonuses were applied.
While it was odds on on for a bunch sprint the crowds were still treated to a break of three chancing their luck. The trio of Sofie van Rooijen (Parkhotel Valkenburg), Victoire Berteau (Cofidis Women Team) and Grace Lister (DAS-Handsling Bikes) broke away on the fifth of the eight 11.1km laps of the Central London circuit. Within a lap they had built, or been allowed, a lead of more than one minute making Berteau the virtual overall race leader.
Their bid for glory was over by the time the race crossed the finish line on the Mall for the penultimate time. Aussie Sarah Roy (Canyon//SRAM Racing) tried to defy the fates with a late attack but was reeled back in swiftly.
Rounding the corner in front of Buckingham Palace the sprinters batlle reached its climax. UAE Team ADQ lead the peloton onto the Mall with Team DSM on their wheel. Canyon/SRAM Racing took the lead punching for the line a long way out. Chloé Dygert covers the final 100m in the lead but down her right hand side Kool is going faster and overtakes with 20 metres to go to take a narrow victory.
The victory is Kool’ssixth race win of the season but is the first WorldTour stage race general classification success of her career.
“I was in a lot of pain this morning but I think in the race I switched it off and then the team delivered me perfectly, this is really a team win,” she explained, wearing her race winner’s jersey after the podium ceremony.
Explaining the tactics going on in the peloton behind the break she said, “I was quite confident because it was not on us because Canyon needed the seconds to move up in GC. For us it was actually the perfect situation, the bonus seconds were gone, so actually we stayed really calm and they made the chase. Even Trek helped so that was fine for us in the end.” And despite Canyon//SRAM Racing taking the sprint on early on The Mall she remained in control.
“I think I could expect that because she did it before and I just tried to wait as long as possible then I knew I had to go. It was a hard one but I am really happy that I could win the stage also.”
Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) sealed the overall win in Rome this Sunday, while Mark Cavendish riding his last Giro finally claimed the stage win that eluded him through the Italy campaign.
Cavendish enjoyed a lead out from an unlikely source in his bid for glory, none other than long term friend Geraint Thomas. The Manx man took full advantage of the Welsh gift and powered ahead to beat Alex Kirsch (Trek – Segafredo) and Filippo Fiorelli (Green Project – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè) who finished second and third respectively.
Speaking seconds after the stage finish, the stage winner Mark Cavendish said: “I am super happy, it’s been an incredible day. My team mates have done a great job. My first win was in 2008, to be here again it’s unbelievable. It was very nice to see a lot of colleagues and friends happy for me after the finish like Geraint Thomas.”
Photo credit: Giro d’Italia
Roglič just had to ensure that he finished near the front in Rome to secure his first giro victory so the day was a relaxed affair for most of the peloton which allowed a break of
Giro d’Italia winnerPrimož Roglič said in the press conference: “There’s so much emotion going on after my time trial win yesterday. This was my first time in Rome. The scenery is incredible. It makes me happy to be part of the history with the position I have and I want to say a big thanks to everyone involved. Every Grand Tour is a challenge. I can’t compare my win at the Giro with the Tour or La Vuelta. The Giro was what I was hunting for this year. I wish it was easier to win but it was a pleasure to fight with Geraint Thomas who is a good friend of mine. Having beaten him here won’t affect our relationship.”
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION 1 – Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) 2 – Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) at 14″ 3 – João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) at 1’15” 4 – Damiano Caruso (Bahrain – Victorious) at 4’40” 5 – Thibaut Pinot (Groupama – FDJ) at 5’43”
THE OFFICIAL JERSEYS The leader jerseys of the Giro d’Italia are designed by CASTELLI and produced with SITIP recycled fabrics.
Maglia Rosa, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by Enel – Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma)
Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification, sponsored by Agenzia ICE with the brand Madeinitaly.gov.it– Jonathan Milan (Bahrain – Victorious)
Maglia Azzurra, leader of the Gran Premio della Montagna, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Thibaut Pinot (Groupama – FDJ)
Maglia Bianca, Best Young Rider, sponsored by Intimissimi Uomo – João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)
Remco Evenepoel won Stage 9 ITT to take the Maglia Rosa but Geraint Thomas, Tao Geoghegan Hart and Stefan Küng were within four seconds of the Belgian.
STAGE RESULTS 1 – Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) – 35 km in 41’24″, average speed 50.725 km/h 2 – Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) at 1″ 3 – Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) at 2″.
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION 1 – Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) 2 – Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) at 45″ 3 – Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) at 47″ 4 – Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) at 50″ 5 – João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) at 1’07”
Remco Evenepoel in full flight May 14, 2023 Savignano sul Rubicone, Italy – Sport – Cycling – Giro d’Italia 2023 – 106th Edi tion – Stage 9 – From Savignano sul Rubicone to Cesena (Technogym Village Tutor ITT). Photo Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse
Cesena (Technogym Village), 14 May 2023 – Remco Evenepoel claimed his second individual time trial victory of the Giro but the finish could not be much tighter with Geraint Thomas (1’’), Tao Geoghegan Hart (2’’) and Stefan Küng (4’’) breathing down his neck at the end.
The Belgian started strongly but weakened towards the end of the 35km course. He moved back in the Maglia Rosa with an advantage of 45’’ over Thomas, 47’’ over Primoz Roglic and 50’’ over Geoghegan Hart, making it a top 4 of only Grand Tour overall winners before the first rest day. Previous leader Andreas Leknessund now sits in sixth position with a deficit of 1’07’’.
“What made things even more special was that I did it on Mother’s Day and my whole family here. It was nice to get their support and see them at the finish. It wasn’t easy today with the rain and the cold temperatures, but I’m happy I could pull it off”, said Evenepoel, the only rider with two victories so far at this Giro, after retaking the maglia rosa.
“In the first part of the time trial I paced myself a bit too hard, and then, in the headwind, my legs didn’t turn as fast as in those opening kilometers. I could also feel the damage from the crashes of this week, and in the end it was quite tight, but I’m delighted I could prevail and claim this beautiful pink jersey. It’s nice to have an advantage in the GC before the mountains and I will try to enjoy every moment in the maglia rosa, but for the moment I’m looking forward to recovering on the first rest day before seeing what the next stages have in store”, added Remco, the first Belgian rider in 22 years to amass four days as leader of the Corsa Rosa.
THE OFFICIAL JERSEYS The leader jerseys of the Giro d’Italia are designed by CASTELLI and produced with SITIP recycled fabrics.
Maglia Rosa, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by Enel – Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification, sponsored by Agenzia ICE with the brand Madeinitaly.gov.it– Jonathan Milan (Bahrain – Victorious)
Maglia Azzurra, leader of the Gran Premio della Montagna, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Davide Bais (Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team)
Maglia Bianca, Best Young Rider, sponsored by Intimissimi Uomo – Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) – worn by Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM)
United Arab Emirates, 17 February 2023 – Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the organisers of the UAE Tour, are pleased to announce four more top riders expected to be among the protagonists in the fifth edition of the UAE Tour, taking place from 20-26 February.
Third in the GC in 2022, Pello Bilbao (Bahrain – Victorious) returns to target Jebel Jais and Jebel Hafeet summit finishes, whilst Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team), Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco Alula) and Elia Viviani (INEOS Grenadiers) are ready to battle it out for the the sprint crown.
Mark Cavendish, who joined Astana Qazaqstan Team from Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team this season, is the reigning British champion and former world champion (2011), has a glittering history in the UAE, having taken seven victories in his five previous visits. His most recent win at the race was in 2022 UAE Tour, when he edged out Jasper Philipsen on the Abu Dhabi Breakwater to win Stage 2. With an impressive total of 34 Tour de France stage wins, Cavendish shares the record of all-time stage wins with cycling legend Eddy Merckx.
Pello Bilbao (Bahrain – Victorious) returns to the UAE 12 months after securing third place in the General Classification. Bilbao’s podium finish resulted from a great performance on the Jebel Hafeet climb, where claimed the third spot behind eventual race winner Tadej Pogačar and runner-up Adam Yates. A two-time stage winner at the Giro d’Italia, Bilbao kicked off his palmares this season by winning Stage 3 of the Santos Tour Down Under, and is now ready to show his form at the fifth edition of the UAE Tour.
Photo LaPresse – Fabio Ferrari February 26, 2022 Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) Sport Cycling UAE Tour 2022 -MUBADALA STAGE- Stage 7 – Al Jahili Fort at Jebel Hafeet – 91 miles In the pic:Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates),Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) ,Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious)
Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco Alula) is just one of the many top sprinters expected to shine during the four stages which look suited to sprinters of this year’s race. The Dutchman is a five-time stage winner of the Tour de France (between 2017 to 2022), and has already had success at the UAE Tour, having won Stage 4 in 2020. This year he already has a win, taking Stage 1 of the Saudi Tour, and will now be looking for more success in the one and only UCI WorldTour race in the Middle East.
Elia Viviani (INEOS Grenadiers) will also be on the hunt for stage wins at this year’s race. The Italian first rode the UAE Tour in 2019, taking a stage victory and the sprinter’s green jersey as part of Deceuninck – Quick Step . Winner of the 2018 Dubai Tour, five stages at the Giro d’Italia, one stage at the Tour de France, and Olympic Champion in the omnium at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Viviani heads to the UAE to target wins in stages 1,4,5 and 6.
Tour of Britain 2023 to finish in Wales as new long term agreement unveiled.
Nic Dlamini and Rory Townsend battle it out during the 2018 Tour of Britain in Wales (SWpix.com)
The Tour of Britain organisers Sweetspot have signed a long term deal with the Welsh Government to bring the UK’s biggest professional cycle race to Wales over the next four years.
The agreement, which began with the 2022 Women’s Tour stage between Wrexham and Welshpool in June, will secure future visits of both races to the principality. The venue for the 2023 finish is yet to be disclosed but is scheduled for Sunday 10 September 2023. It will be the 16th of the modern race that will have taken place in Wales since its return to the calendar in 2004. A further five stages of the Women’s Tour have also been hosted by Welsh regions since the race’s inaugural 2014 edition.
Welsh Government Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming the Tour of Britain back again next year – and to our longer-term partnership with the Tour. Wales’ credentials for hosting cycling events is now well-established. The Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour are the perfect showcase for our landscape and the welcome we provide to the competitors and spectators and we look forward to working with our Local Authority partners as the Tour of Britain continues to reach all points of Wales.”
Following the hosting of the final stage of the 2023 Tour of Britain, the agreement will see the 2024 Women’s Tour start in Wales for the first time ever. In 2025 it will be the turn of the men’s Tour of Britain to start in Wales for the first time since 2018, and then 2026 will see the Women’s Tour’s overall finish in Wales for the first time in seven years.
Anne Adams-King, Welsh Cycling CEO, said:“It’s great news that the Tour of Britain will visit Wales again for 2023 and that the race and the Women’s Tour have secured a longer-term partnership with Welsh Government. We hope this news will help boost the popularity of cycling in Wales and help inspire the younger generation to take up their bikes.”
Mick Bennett, Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour race director, said:“We are delighted to be extending our partnership with the Welsh Government and to be bringing the final stage of the 2023 Tour of Britain to Wales.
“The long-term support of the Welsh Government is invaluable in allowing us to plan for future stages of the races in Wales. Together we are working to reach as many parts of Wales as possible with both races over the next few years in order to give as many fans as possible the chance to see the Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour.”
Promo video – courtesy of the Tour of Britain
Since 2004 the Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour of together have visited 18 of the 22 local authority regions in the country covering almost 1800 miles (3,000 kilometres) of racing in Wales, visiting the cities of Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, and Wrexham, as well as the Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons National Parks.
According to independent reports by the Frontline agency the benefit to the Welsh economy has been in the tens of millions of pounds. The race has also enabled the showcase of both community projects and Wales’ rich portfolio of tourist attractions, from the revamped Carmarthenshire velodrome and the national closed road cycle circuit at Pembrey County Park in Carmarthenshire, to the National Botanic Gardens of Wales and the Great Orme.
Tour of Britain organisers hope to build on the support from the hundreds of thousands of road-side fans and millions more on TV. Since 2012, 12 stages of the men’s Tour of Britain and two stages of Women’s Tour in Wales have been broadcast live, reaching millions of viewers in the UK and around the world. Every stage held in Wales has also enjoyed free-to-air highlights broadcast in Britain.
Further details of the final stage of the Tour of Britain 2023 will be announced in the New Year, with more information on the host venues and routes for the Welsh stages of future editions of both races to be unveiled in due course
Stage 21 (Final): Paris La Défense -Paris (Champs-Élysées), 115.6km
Paris Champs-Élysées, Sunday, July 24th – Belgian Jasper Philipsen outclassed former Champs-Élysées winners Dylan Groenewegen and Alexander Kristoff to take victory on the final stage of the Tour de France. Behind the hurley burly of the sprint Dane Jonas Vingegaard’s arrived with the other four survivors of Jumbo-Visma to claim his first overall victory at a Grand Tour.
Belgian Jasper Philipsen wins Stage 21
Philipsen’s win was the second of the Tour, the first on Stage 15 (Rodez to Carcassonne) and gave him the title of the the most successful sprinter of the 109th Tour de France and the chance to emulate his childhood hero Tom Boonen who also won his second Tour de France stage in Paris at the age of 24 in 2004. It wasn’t enough to give him the points jersey. That honour went to Wout van Aert who didn’t contest the last sprint in order to be alongside Vingegaard at the line.
Second overall went to Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), 2’43” down with Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) at 7’22”.
Mende, Saturday, July 16th – Michael Matthews won again at the Tour de France five years after the last time. Second at Longwy and Lausanne, he became the second Australian to win a stage after Simon Clarke on stage 5 and the second rider from Team BikeExchange-Jayco to win a stage after Dylan Groenewegen on stage 3. The sprinter from Canberra rode as an attacker to finish solo after the Côte de la Croix-Neuve in Mende while Alberto Bettiol and Thibaut Pinot rounded out the podium.
16/07/2022 – Tour de France 2022 – Stage 14 – Saint-Etienne / Mende (192,5km) – Stage Winner Michael MATTHEWS (TEAM BIKEESCHANGE-JAYCO) Photo: ASO/Pauline Ballet
Young rider leader Pogacar shattered rivals plans with a well crafted ride on the cobbles of Northern France while veteran Australian Simon Clarke took a maiden Tour de France stage victory at age 35.
06/07/2022 – Tour de France 2022 – Stage 5 – Lille Métropole / Arenberg Porte du Hainaut (153,7km) – Stage winner CLARKE Simon (ISRAEL-PREMIER TECH) Photo: A.S.O. / Charly Lopez
Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, Wednesday, July 6th – Australia’s Simon Clarke claimed his maiden Tour de France stage victory as the early breakaway survived to the line. The Israel-Premier Tech veteran, aged 35, pipped Taco van der Hoorn on the line while Edvald Boasson Hagen rounded out the podium. Wout van Aert who crashed before the cobbled sector and waited for Jonas took third spot.
The yellow jersey battle took a new twist with a big re-jig at the top of the standings. While Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) who had punctured retained the yellow jersey by a margin of 13 seconds over breakaway member Neilson Powless a late attack by Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) in the company of Jasper Stuyven (Trek – Segafredo) saw the UAE rider move into third and extend the gap to rivals such as Vingegaard.
How it happened
Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies), Magnus Cort and Neilson Powless (EF Education-Easypost), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), Simon Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech) and Alexis Gougeard (B&B Hotels-KTM) entered the second cobbled sector with an advantage of 3’25”.
Clarke described what it meant to win his first Tour de France stage: “I mean, after winter I had, I had no team and Israel-Premier Tech rang me up. I was given that chance… Today is the reality check that everything can happen if you take the opportunity. The first few days of the Tour, I was looking after the team. But this morning, the team director said: ‘Clarkey, today is a breakaway day!’ The stages I won at La Vuelta and the pink jersey I had at the Giro all came in the first week of the race. So I thought today was maybe the day… But I still can’t believe it. I passed Taco less than 50 meters to go. I gave my bike the biggest throw I could. My stages at La Vuelta came in similar finishes. I chose to sit back and hope for the other guys to crack before. I really had to chase Edvald down. We’ve been sprinting since the last corner. I went as hard as I could until the line. I moved to Europe for racing when I was 16 and I’ll turn 36 on the second rest day of the Tour, so after 20 years, now the dream comes true. Hi to everyone in Australia and thanks for the support through all those years!”
06/07/2022 – Tour de France 2022 – Stage 5 – Lille Metropole / Arenberg Porte du Hainaut (153,7km) – Race leader Wout VAN AERT (JUMBO – VISMA)Route profile with the 11 cobbled sectors
PRO-NOCTIS and WIV SUNGOD crowned sportsbreaks.com Tour Series Champions in Manchester
Report compiled using material supplied by https://tourseries.co.uk/
Three weeks of intense racing saw Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes p/b Heidi Kjeldsen and Wiv SunGod crowned Sportsbreaks.com Tour Series champions in Manchester city centre on Tuesday night
For the men of Wiv SunGod it was a third series title, following on from wins in 2018 and 2019, while for the Pro-Noctis team of British circuit race champion Jo Tindley it was a first crown, having been narrowly denied in the final event in 2021.
Sportsbreaks.com Tour Series – Round 7 Grand Final: Manchester – Women’s Race – Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes p/b Heidi Kjeldsen and Wiv SunGod Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com – 24/05/2022
Round 7 (Final) Women’s Event
Second place on the night behind Team Boompods ensured the inaugural title for Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes p/b Heidi Kjeldsen, a comfortable victory having finished in the top two positions at all seven rounds and held the lead from round one in Guisborough.
Speaking afterwards Bexy Dew said; “Morale has been really high throughout. We worked really well together and have analysed and talked about each round afterwards and how we can improve as a team. I think that’s what’s made us stronger each round, and we finished on a high today.
“I’m not sure having the jerseys all series added to the pressure. I think it added to the enjoyment and the excitement of the whole thing.”
Sportsbreaks.com Tour Series – Round 7 Grand Final: Manchester – Women’s Race Emma Jeffers of Jadan – Vive le Velo celebrates the win. Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com – 24/05/2022Sportsbreaks.com Tour Series – Round 7 Grand Final: Manchester – Women’s Race – Amy Gornall of Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes p/b Heidi Kjeldsen and Gaby Shaw of Team Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus. Picture by Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com – 24/05/2022
In the women’s race there was a second win of the series for 17-year-old Emma Jeffers (Jadan – Vive Le Velo), who sprinted home on Deansgate ahead of Sammie Stuart (Team LDN – Brother UK) and Lucy Harris (Team Boompods).
Stuart led through the final corner but on the 150-metre run to the line Jeffers came past to cross the line arms aloft and also take the fastest lap.
“This is the one I was aiming for, and I managed to pull it off,” said Jeffers.
“Pro-Noctis had three girls in the front, and then a Boompods girl attacked. Then Sammie [Stuart] counter attacked coming into the second to last corner. I just held onto Sammie’s wheel and managed to get around her on that last straight and hold it.”
Having taken the overall Sportsbreaks.com Tour Series title with her Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes p/b Heidi Kjeldsen team, Tindley also added the Freewheel.co.uk Sprints competition, defending a jersey that she also took in 2021.
Sportsbreaks.com Tour Series – Round 7 Grand Final: Manchester – Men’s Race – Wiv SunGod celebrate the win. Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com – 24/05/2022
Wiv SunGod, who also have led the series since the opening event, sealed their title in style with Matt Bostock winning his second round of 2022 by 11.5 seconds at the head of a team 1-2-3.
Sportsbreaks.com Tour Series – Round 7 Grand Final: Manchester – Men’s Race – Matt Bostock of Wiv SunGod celebrates the win. Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com – 24/05/2022
Stockport-based Bostock broke away mid-race, countering after team-mate Ollie Wood’s solo move had been captured, helping seal the Freewheel.co.uk Sprints competition.
“It was the perfect way to finish, it doesn’t get much better than winning solo as well” said Bostock. “I think as a team we just ripped it up, couldn’t have been any better.
“The atmosphere was amazing, I wish I’d taken it in a bit more, but I was seeing double and my legs were screaming. It was a bit of a blur but the noise and the crowd was just mega.”
At the finish, behind Bostock, Wood and then Matt Gibson led in a 10-rider group, with Harry and Charlie Tanfield in fourth and fifth for Ribble Weldtite, who finished as runners up, four points back from Wiv SunGod, with Wales Racing Academy in third overall.
“The individual results don’t matter as much,” continued Bostock. “Because the team prize is the main thing. But it’s really good to get your hands in the air and I think we’ve won maybe four rounds out of the seven, so it couldn’t be much better.
“It speaks volumes that we’ve had three different winners, and we’ve basically shared them out so that says a lot about how strong of a team we’ve got. It’s almost a shame we couldn’t give everyone a win, because I think everyone’s deserved one. I don’t think we’ve had one bad night.”
BINIAM GIRMAY out sprinted Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix to become the first Eritrean to take a stage at a Giro. In a cruel twist of fate the 22 year old Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux rider was immediately sidelined after taking a cork in the eye from the celebratory Prosecco.
Foto Massimo Paolone/LaPresse
17 Maggio 2022 Pescara
sport ciclismo
Giro d’Italia 2022 – edizione 105
Tappa 10 Pescara – Jesi
Nella foto:
Photo Massimo Paolone/LaPresse
May 17, 2022 Pescara
sport Cycling
Giro d’Italia 2022 – 105th edition
Stage 10 Pescara – Jesi
In the pic:
Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay made the best of his duel with Mathieu van der Poel to become the first Eritrean stage winner at the Giro d’Italia, one and half months after he made history in the northern classics, winning Gent-Wevelgem. It was a very competitive stage, heading to Michele Scarponi’s native town of Jesi. Italy’s Vincenzo Albanese rounded off the podium and Juan Pedro Lopez retained the Maglia Rosa.
Biniam Girmay had to skip the post-podium press conference to go to hospital after an incident on stage, however straight after the finish he said: “I started the Giro with the desire to win a stage. Everyone from the team pulled for me today, even the GC riders, Domenico Pozzovivo was amazing at the end. At 600m to go, he said: ‘come’. He pushed me to go and win. I realize I’m making history but it’s thanks to my team and my family. I’m really grateful to them.”
Juan Pedro Lopez, who pulled on the maglia rosa for the eight straight day said in the press conference: “When we passed Filottrano, I started to cry. I didn’t get to know Michele Scarponi but I know his family and there were a lot of emotions. I was lucky enough to meet Biniam Girmay three or four years ago. We’ve maintained a good relationship since then. We also keep in touch via social media. He makes history today. Moreover, he’s a very humble and amicable person. As for myself, I enjoy every day and every kilometre in the Maglia Rosa. I don’t know for how much longer but tomorrow I’m sure I’ll enjoy again.”
