Giulio Ciccone takes the pink jersey and talks about all the emotion of a goal he has been chasing for years. The Lidl-Trek climber from Abruzzo is the new leader of the 2026 Giro d’Italia after third place in the fourth stage, the 138 kilometer Catanzaro-Cosenza.
“A dream chased for ten years”
“Today is one of those days where it is difficult to find words. I started as a child with this jersey in my heart, my dream as a cyclist was to wear it even just for one day. I think I have chased it with my heart and head since my first Giro in 2016, ten years later, when I least expected it, it arrived suddenly”, Ciccone declared to Rai Sport.
“Repay all the sacrifices made”
A result that represents the highest point of a long journey: “It’s one of those moments that repays the sacrifices made by me and everyone around me. I started chasing this shirt, I don’t know if it’s the end or the beginning of the journey, but one thing is certain: it’s the shirt I wanted most, it’s really something special.”
Finally the dedication: “I want to make a dedication to those who have made many sacrifices with me. In recent years cycling has changed, even life outside of the bike requires a thousand sacrifices, so I thank all those who suffer with me”, concluded Ciccone.