In stage 4, the first one in Italy, the Giro peloton experienced a rather calm day on Tuesday. At least, it did so until the final hour of racing in the streets of Lecce, where tension clearly rose in preparation for the sprint. However, no major incidents were reported, with Casper van Uden winning the race, while David Gaudu safely finished in the pack.
After three days in Albania, the Giro d’Italia was back on home soil. And it is in Puglia that the race resumed on Tuesday, with a fourth stage going from Alberobello to Lecce, featuring 189 kilometres without any real difficulties. The pure sprinters were finally expected in the spotlights, and almost no one was eager to launch an early attack. Spaniard Francisco Munoz therefore broke away alone at kilometer 0, and a long day began. “The start was calm, and it felt good after a strong weekend in Albania and the transfer day,” explained Stéphane Goubert. After a far from frantic chase, the day’s fugitive was caught fifty kilometres from the finish, and the pack then got more serious. “The peloton was nervous in the final, and we actually saw more crashes than in Albania,” added Stéphane. “David wanted to be quite high up in the peloton because that’s where he feels comfortable to save energy and not stress mentally about a possible crash. The boys did an excellent job keeping him in front.”
“The final was really crazy”, Stéphane Goubert
Until the final circuit approached, the Breton climber remained at the front of the peloton, then the nervosity further increased in Lecce. And for good reason. “The final was really crazy,” Stéphane described. “It was a pretty dangerous circuit, with three proper narrowings and a very narrow road at times. We had to be very careful with that, especially at the beginning of a Grand Tour when there isn’t fatigue yet, and everyone is full of enthusiasm. Fortunately, everything went well for David and the team, apart from a puncture for Lorenzo, which was of no consequence.” The Groupama-FDJ cycling team’s leader therefore reached the finish line in the main peloton, while Casper van Uden won in the sprint. Overall, David Gaudu also gained a position on Tuesday, moving up to twenty-third place. Tomorrow, the peloton will head to the picturesque city of Matera, in the Basilicata region. “The final is a bit more difficult, hopefully it will make for a smoother race, but the goal remains the same: to keep David safe,” Stéphane insisted.
