Permanent tachycardia in this Giro hoarding unforeseen events due to a hostile climate and the damn covid that governs the British Geraint Thomas (pink jersey) and who, finally, smiles at Movistar. The telephone group opened with victory in the first short alpine stage, thanks to the cunning of Einer Rubio, a 25-year-old Colombian who stands out for his remarkable performance in the high mountains. Second victory of the season for the small climber (1.64 meters) after the stage scored in the UAE Tour.
Rubio, the son of farmers who had to emigrate from Boyacá to Bogotá due to the drought, adds his third year in the formation of Eusebio Unzué. His reference in Colombian cycling is Esteban Chaves. This Friday he cleverly withstood the attacks of the Frenchman Thibaut Pinot (Groupama) and Jefferson Cepeda (EF Education), his escape companions, overtaking them in the last 200 meters in a ramp sprint.
Rubio was the great beneficiary of a day in which the setbacks reappeared in the first appointment with the alpine summits. The route of this Friday's stage, the 13th, was modified at the last minute so as not to further punish the survivors of the round. The runners who were in Borgofranco d'Ivrea made the neutralized start and then went by bus to Le Chàble to start the new start, near the Croix de Coeur pass to face a shortened day. The planned 207 kilometers remained at 74.6. The ascent to the Grand Saint-Bernard (the Coppi summit, with 2,469) was canceled due to adverse weather conditions and the final stretch was maintained, with the climbs to Croix de Coeur and Crans Montana, already in the domain of Switzerland.
A day with two first-class ports that started explosively. After the start from set pieces, a breakaway was forged with top players, in addition to Pinot, Rubio and Cepeda, Valentin Paret-Peintre (AG2R), Bruno Armirail (Groupama), Derek Gee (Israel) and Matthew Riccitello (Israel) entered, who trodden the top of Croix de Couer with a sale of 1.50 minutes over the group of the best, commanded by Geraint Thomas' Ineos.
The escapees descended with caution on a wet road and in whose ditches numerous areas with snow appeared. Dangerous path to the foothills of Crans Montana, a climb of more than 13 kilometers with an average gradient of 7.2%. A beautiful ski resort, a treat for the senses, with the Severiano Ballesteros golf course and spectacular views of the colossi Matterhorn and Mont Blanc
An ascent adorned by green meadows in which Pinot was very restless, with three consecutive changes of pace in the first contact with the port, answered by Cepeda, Rubio and Gee. Three minutes of rent with the chasing group, where Primoz Roglic did not flinch with the march imposed by Ineos. Fortunato (Eolo Kometa) and Carthy (EF Education) moved without a prize. Ahead, Pinot took the initiative and argued permanently with Cepeda. Rubio, calm, never entered the challenge, barely contributed relays and saved energy for the last stretch. He wriggled on his bike, sped up and away from his fellow escapers.. He sprinted confidently and had time to savor the victory, raising his arms and remembering his family, who always encouraged him to make his way in cycling. Behind, 1.35 minutes behind, came leader Thomas and Roglic, the two strongest candidates for the podium in Rome.