The rain continues to wet the Giro while Bradley Wiggins' psycho-drama continues: but it's really only the weather's fault that the English champion in this Giro is making a terrible effort to keep the wheels of Nibali, Gesink, Evans, Scarponi barely Is there a somewhat technical descent? Doubts about the champion's holding are growing day by day. Even today, descending from Vallombrosa towards Pontassieve, Team Sky had to call all its men to stay close to Wiggo who, clearly visible thanks to his blue cape to protect himself from the downpour, was rapidly losing ground from Nibali's group until accusing, turn after curba, a delay of more than a minute at the bottom of the valley.
With the help of Uran and Henao, the Briton managed on the flat section to catch up with the group of his rivals who, fortunately for him, didn't even seem willing to shoot to death to blame the winner of the Tour: no fair play , Nibali will honestly say at the finish line that he didn't notice Wiggins' absence in the tussle. Which, already on the following mountain grand prix, lost contact with the best wheels again. Just a little but even on the climb the Englishman gave the impression of not being him on the best days.
So the question marks, given also the disappointing time trial in Saltara, gather over the man who was the one to beat at the start of the Giro. Was it perhaps overestimated in the wake of a promotional campaign that culminated in the London Olympics? Doubts fueled by the memory of the moments of suffering accused by Wiggins, even in the last triumphant Tour for him, every time his companion, Chris Froome, forced the pace in the Alps and the Pyrenees. As everyone well remembers, the team manager of the English team had even intervened to stop the "wingman" who was too perky for the captain's rhythms.
In the end, it went well for him at the finish line in Florence: because today Wiggins, despite struggling more than he should have, saved himself by avoiding aggravating his classification, arriving at the back of Nibali's group but with the same time in the pink jersey. This does not mean that tomorrow, on his day off, Sir Bradley will have to examine his conscience and ask himself whether with this mood under his heels, with his eyes full of dismay as if he had suddenly discovered a profession with unknown risks, it is worth continue a Giro that from Tuesday will be increasingly difficult for him. The day after tomorrow the completely new climb to Alpe di Montasio is already scheduled after the brow of Cason di Lanza, another novelty of the pink race, with slopes exceeding 20%. Nibali could inflict a mortal blow on the Wiggins seen so far without waiting for the Galibier or the Stelvio.
In the stage dedicated to the memory of Gino Bartali, the vicissitudes of the greats, at the top of the standings, must not make us forget the success of Maxim Belkov, a Russian from Movistar who lives in Prato, author of a courageous escape that took off on the Vallombrosa descent and ended in the majestic setting of Piazza Michelangelo. In places of honour, two Colombians Betancur and Pantano distanced you by 45” and 46” with the first, Betancur, who – forgetting that Belkov was ahead – raised his hands to the sky convinced he had won. The group of the best was governed by Cadel Evans 1'03” behind the winner. In this group there was Wiggins in the rear positions, but not Ryder Hesjedal, the winner of the last Giro, who arrived with a gap of about two minutes from the best. Now the Canadian, already subdued in yesterday's time trial, is 3'11” behind Nibali, increasingly in the pink jersey.
