The first acute of Juan Ayusocaptain of the UAE very determined to assert themselves in the absence of the other team leader, Tadej Pogacar. The return of Primaz Roglic to the pink jersey. The third place of Egan Bernal who is also the return to the life of a champion for whom time seemed to have stopped on that damned day, on January 24, 2022, when he was training in Colombia and went to bang over 60 kilometers per hour against a bus that had suddenly stopped. Reviewing him on a bicycle, and in the race, was almost a miracle, since the doctors had told him that he would probably end up in a wheelchair.
The seventh stage of the Giro, held entirely in Abruzzo with departure from Castel di Sangro (L’Aquila) and arrival in Tagliacozzo (L’Aquila) with a final ramp of 2,600 meters at 9.1%, said all this and also more, such as the recovery of the Italians, given that Giulio Ciccone and Antonio Tiberi have always been present in the crucial phases of the stage that closed respectively in the fifth and sixth place, Ayuso. And now to be well placed in the ranking is Tiberi, a man from racing, who is fourth at 27 seconds from Rogl. Ciccone, who dreamed of the victory on the roads of his land, tried to leave in the final stretch, when the slopes began to be felt in the corridors’ legs, but his attempt was empty for the reaction of Bernal and also Tiberi. Thus, taking advantage of a moment of general indecision, Ayuso was able to place the decisive shot when 700 meters were missing, also burning his teammate Isaac del Toro, who placed himself behind him for the brace of the Emiratine team.
«This victory is a big step forward in my career. It is my fourth big lap, and I had already gone close to the success at Vuelta – the words of Aysuo in the after race -. Making it today, at my first tour of Italy, is something special, and it will be an indelible memory. I knew I could do a single attack, without washing in two or three attempts on such an explosive ending, and when I saw that it was the right time, I left all. Today it was important not only to win, but also try to recover the time lost in the stopwatch. This victory gives me great trust for the next stages, however on Sunday, in that of Siena, it will be necessary to pay close attention ». It appears fatigued, but happy, Bernal: «I’m sorry not having won – he says -, but I’m happy for how I heard my legs: I warned sensations found. Now I’m more confident for the days to come ». Tomorrow eighth stage of this lap, with 197 km from Giulianova (Teramo) to Castelraimondo (Macerata), with the climb halfway through the saxotto (13.1 km to 7.3%of average slope) and with the end of the mountain of Montelago in the final (5.5 km at 6.9), Castel Santa Maria (1.4 km to 7.3%) and Gagiole (800 meters at 8%). In short, another day that promises well, at least from the point of view of emotions, considering that today also the various Simon Yates, Richard Carapaz and Giulio Pellizzari have done their part, placing all within twelfth place. In short, at the Giro it is still all in the balance, and the show is not lacking.