"Now I want to do a grand Tour, but I'll go back to the Giro again." Bradley Wiggins, emaciated in health and morale, packed his bags even before the Giro restarted for the longest stage, from Busseto – to commemorate Verdi's bicentenary – up to Cherasco. Ryder Hesjedal, the winner of the 2012 Giro but who was never seen again this year after his sprint in the Serra San Bruno stage, also left with Wiggins. Shooting stars of this Giro which today after so much rain finally saw a pale sun again, a brief flash of spring before the arrival of the new depression that promises polar temperatures on the Alpine peaks of Jafferau (tomorrow) and Galibier (Sunday). For an Englishman, Wiggins, who sadly lowers the flag, there is another, Mark Cavendish, who is over the moon turning every sprint into a triumphal march.
Even today Cannonball showed off its overflowing power starting alone 300 meters from the finish line. For Nizzolo and Mezgec who tried to resist him there was nothing they could do. For the Isle of Man champion, increasingly red jersey in the points classification, it is the fourth seal in this Giro. With the one-two scored between yesterday in Treviso and today in Piedmont, Cavendish has achieved 40 stage wins in the Giro, Tour and Vuelta. At 28 he is already a character in historical annals. And in his final masterpiece on the Cherasco straight lies the whole synthesis of the longest stage of the Giro which is the antechamber to a weekend in the great mountains.
It was one of the quieter days for Nibali, a respite before the foreseeable battle. And Uran Uran, now that Team Sky is entirely at his service, freed from the cumbersome presence of Wiggins, could really be the most formidable opponent of the pink jersey, who however would do well to also beware of Evans, Gesink and – why not -from old Scarponi. The black clouds arriving from nearby France, swollen with rain and also with snow on high ground, herald ambushes in a terrible climate.
