The Giro peloton was clearly eager to get this second week over with. On Sunday, the fifteenth stage, through the Veneto mountains, was once again contested at a furious pace. After an intense fight at the start, Rémy Rochas and David Gaudu managed to join the breakaway, but the decisive move eventually went after the Monte Grappa. Carlos Verona took the victory, and all the riders will now enjoy the last rest day tomorrow, before a brutal return to business on Tuesday.
A solid menu loomed ahead of the riders this Sunday to conclude the second week of the Giro d’Italia. Heading towards Asiago, where Thibaut Pinot won back in 2017, the peloton not only had 220 kilometres to cover, but also 4,000 metres of elevation gain. What’s more, most of the climbing featured in the second half of the race after 100 kilometres almost completely flat since Fiume Veneto. With no difficulties at the start, the fight for the breakaway proved to be very fierce yet again, and it was finally after 70 kilometres of racing that a group of around 30 riders managed to break away, with Rémy Rochas and David Gaudu among them. “The goal today was definitely to anticipate in order to be there in the final, and the guys did it very well at the start,” emphasized Stéphane Goubert. “Almost all of them tried: Lorenzo, Kevin, Enzo, Quentin, then it was Rémy and David who managed to enter the right move. Unfortunately, they didn’t have enough of a lead at the bottom of Monte Grappa to hope to go far, as it is always the peloton that decides.”
“As long as you give it your all, there can be no regrets,” Stéphane Goubert
With 120 kilometres to go, the breakaway reached the first major climb of the day (25 km at 5.7%) with a lead of just over three minutes, and the moves started straight away. David Gaudu couldn’t join the party anymore. “He managed to be active at the start, but it was still a bit short today,” Stéphane explained. “The main goal for him is not to go above his limits. It would be pointless and counterproductive. We have to go step by step. He has to manage his efforts. His hand injury is almost healed. He now needs to recover, and once that’s done, gradually improve to hopefully achieve something in the final week. The goal is to finish this Giro in very good shape, and if he can get a result in the process, all the better!” For his part, Rémy Rochas was able to hang onto the rest of the breakaway, but the fight between the favorites in the back meant the fugitives were caught on the long descent of Monte Grappa. “After the downhill, everyone needed a breather, including Rémy, and the good move went at that moment,” added Stéphane. “It’s a shame because it would have allowed him to be in the mix a little longer, but the spirit was good.”Carlos Verona ultimately took the day’s victory after a solo 45-kilometre raid, and the entire Groupama-FDJ cycling team finished the day within the time limit, on the eve of a welcome rest day. “All the boys did what they had to do,” concluded Stéphane. “As long as you give it your all and work hard, there can be no regrets. We have to keep going like this. There will be small opportunities in the last week, and we will have to try and seize them.”
