Finally a stage to remember, the one that brought the Giro, on a gray day in the rain, from Busto Arsizio to Piani dei Resinelli, a stage that rewarded Matteo Rabottini, the hero of the day, on the run for over 140 kilometres, first in solitude on the four mountain grands prix, gave the pink jersey back to Joaquin Purito Rodriguez, exhilarating in the last two kilometres, an explosive sprint that left Basso, Scarponi, Kreuziger and even more Hesjedal on the pedals and which led the Spaniard to first reach his teammate Losada and then, just 750 meters from the finish, Rabottini himself. Only with a desperate regurgitation of strength and pride did the Italian from Farnese – it is not for nothing that his team manager Luigi Scinto defines him as "a cur for his never tamed character" – was he able to reassemble Rodriguez in the sprint, who was satisfied with second place also because today's was one of the five real mountain stages in which 20” time bonuses are not provided for the winner.
Compressed for 14 stages, in which everyone controlled everyone and no one dared to shuffle the cards, the Giro finally managed to unplug the race and in today's 169km towards the 1280m finish in Piani dei Resinelli we witnessed a continuous show with more races within the race. There was Rabottini, that from kilometer to kilometer attracted people's sympathy, sympathy that turned into authentic cheer when we saw him crash into a sidewalk on the descent of the Culmine di San Pietro: there were 16 km to go to the finish line and he still had over 2 minutes of advantage over immediate pursuers; dazed and for a moment disoriented, he got back on the saddle staggering for a few meters but then off again to realize his dream and the undertaking of a career. And to think that yesterday, after a puncture, he got on another bike pedaling towards Cervinia discouraged. Inexplicably, the chassis of his was left leaning on the side of the road. Forgotten, he had then been picked up by a fan. Rabottini wanted his bike at all costs, even at the cost of not starting from Busto. So the Farnese mechanic, after fortunately recovering it late in the evening, worked until three in the morning to put the chassis back in order. And Rabottini, once he got his work tool back, turned into a sort of Rambo”. If you have to give it a rating, it's a 10 without a doubt.
A high mark deserves, if not for the outcome but also for the courage Damian Cunego, who won't win the Giro but who he is the only one between yesterday and today who has tried to ignite the race between the big names in a big way. When he races on the roads of the Giro della Lombardia which he has already won twice, Cunego always gives the impression of getting excited. Perhaps suffering from the superior consideration that his team, Lampre, shows towards Scarponi, lies in the fact that the Veronese rider in the Valico di Valcava descent, the first mountain grand prix of the day, flew away with a small group of riders, including Amador, the winner of Cervinia, in pursuit of Rabottini, an action that led him to be in the virtual pink jersey for many kilometres, with an advantage over Hesjedal of around 1'30” when there were 55 km to go 'I arrive. Then on the last ascent towards Piani dei Resinelli Cunego paid for the effort, first losing contact with the first pursuers of Rabottini (led by the Spaniard Alberto Losada who would act as a point of support for his captain Rodriguez), then making himself reach and overtake even from the handful of the best.
Obviously, in the uptown districts of the Giro, a 10 with honors goes right to Joaquin Rodriguez which at all appears the most brilliant climber and who, under the eyes of his compatriot Angelino Soler – the Spanish guest of the Processo della Tappa della Rai who 50 years ago in the Giro won by Franco Balmamion triumphed by detachment in the only time the pink race stopped at Piani dei Resinelli – did clearly understand that he, Purito, is here to win the Giro. With small jabs, without ever knocking his opponents out, this seems to be the tactic chosen by the leader of the Katusha who today gained another 25” on Basso and Scarponi (respectively fifth and sixth at the finish); 29” on Kreuziger and John Gadret; 39” on Hesjedal; 54” on Tiralongo; 1'11” on Cunego; 1'15” on Sandy Cazar; 2'05” on Pozzovivo who was the most popular with bookmakers for the stage win but who is the one who disappointed the most among the first in the standings. "I suffered from hunger cramps on the final climb", justified the runner from Basilicata, who triumphed in Lake Laceno.
If even today, suffering as always, Mark Cavendish completed the stage another half hour late, on the contrary, a big name gave up right from the first kilometers just outside Busto Arsizio: it's the Luxembourger Frank Schleck who, complaining of shoulder pains, preferred to get on the flagship to return home. He had come to the Giro at the last moment, courted by the organizers, who, short of foreign champions, had presented him as a star of world cycling. Schleck, rather than with his legs, had already lost this Giro with his head, not convinced that he had been there from the start. For someone who, although good, has only one Tour of Switzerland in his palmarés and a podium (third) in last year's Tour behind Evans and his brother Andy, a Giro like this without a champion who could dominate it, could have been an excellent opportunity to flesh out the bulletin board.
Another withdrawal today to report that of the champion of Italy, Visconti. Tomorrow the Giro rests. On Tuesday the caravan will set off again towards the Dolomites with arrival in Falzes: flat stage but with a final climb at 12% which could make Rodriguez want to round off his lead by more seconds which today is exactly half a minute over Hesjedal and 1'22 ” on the third which is Bass. Followed by Tiralongo at 1'26”; Kreuziger at 1'27”; sixth Scarponi at 1'36”.
