Suitsou’s solo win on Vetriolo tophill
Top-notch cycling here at the Giro del Trentino. As predicted, the first uphill finish provided a great show – of racing and enchanting Valsugana’s sights – and it bodes very well for the final two stages, tomorrow and Friday. The mountain crowned a strong rider, Kanstantsin Siutstou, achieving an impressive and well deserved solo win in Vetriolo Terme. “Wiggins left us the chance to try something, and I took the opportunity to attack with 8 km to go, as no one was really controlling the race at that moment. Today it was a matter of great resistance – lengthy stage, hot weather – and that kind of race suits me very well, so I could make the most of the great training we had over the last few weeks” Siutsou explained.
French Maxime Bouet, winner of the first half-stage in Lienz, performed another great effort, handling himself well (20th to the line, 2’23” behind the winner) and taking back the leader’s jersey against all odds, now holding a 3’19” advantage on Suitsou. “I was disappointed to have lost the lead yesterday, but it some way it also favored me today, as the team could focus on the finale, working great and leading me into a perfect position. Now I have got three minutes left, I don’t know if it will be enough, but I hope for a podium now. Among my opponents, Suitsou is clearly very strong, but Wiggins is spinning his legs in a really comfortable fashion…”
The Belarussian attacked at 8 km to go along with Pierre Rolland and Stefano Pirazzi, eventually getting rid of his company in great style. The strong action by the 31-year-old rider appeared like a setup for the top contenders to get in the spotlight, but it didn’t prove so: Vincenzo Nibali ignited the race with 3 km to go, but Suitsou did not hesitate, taking the win with a 4” advantage on a solid Mauro Santambrogio (another to watch at the Giro) and 19” on Nibali, followed on his wake by a relentless Bradley Wiggins. Last year’s winner Domenico Pozzovivo came in to the finish in fifth position, and looks in contention in 2013 too, even though the competition looks stronger than ever.
At the end of the day, the stage to Vetriolo Terme clearly stated that Team Sky is the ruling outfit at the Giro del Trentino, and Sir Bradley Wiggins has a very good form. Nibali was combative, and backed by a very strong Astana team. Cadel Evans finished 10th at 45”. It was an encouraging test for Basso, losing little more than a minute from Wiggins and Nibali, while Michele Scarponi and Franco Pellizotti were disappointing on the day, finishing over 4 minutes behind the winner.
Friday’s test at Sega di Ala will definitely downsize many riders’ pink ambitions. There is a sense that the key match-up of the first two days of the Giro del Trentino (Sky vs. Astana, Wiggins vs. Nibali) might be the main theme of the upcoming Giro d’Italia; it’s up to Sega di Ala to prove it right or wrong. In the meanwhile, Giro del Trentino will restart the action tomorrow, on Thursday, with the third stage from Pergine Valsugana to Condino (176,1 km). It appears to be easier than today’s, but two categorized climbs, including one peaking a 16 km to go, must be taken into fair consideration.
