Just like yesterday, there was a lot of climbing at Coppi e Bartali. Getting to Langiano promised a lot of good for boxing, although the Devil had been mainly in the local four rounds before that, each time with the rise of Roncofreddo (the third cat) and his evil branch to Bivio Monteleone.
Those local rounds inspired Mathieu van der Poel to make the race tough. The Dutchman showed himself several times, but the Ineos Grenadiers put the string in the peloton well and did not give up.
On the last boarding of the Roncofredo, young Eric Vetter, a Hungarian from the stable of Alberto Contador, was the first to attempt. Ineos continued to check and a few kilometers from the summit, Chief Hayter picked his moment.
The young Briton cut a gap, but with the peak of Bivio Monteleone on the horizon, he bounced back. Meanwhile, the damage to the group of candidates was great: Van der Poel had to pay for his offensive spirit, as did Geraint Thomas.
On the final kilometer downhill Andrés Ardella tried to surprise the rest, but Eneos pilot Ben Tolet steered clear of Hayter perfectly and the young Briton rushed to win the victory stage, and top riders like Ulisy and Hershey came short. Hayter’s teammate Eddie Dunbar, second yesterday, is the new captain.
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