Andrea Piccolo Seizes Red Jersey in Stage 2 at Vuelta a España
Italian cyclist Andrea Piccolo made a remarkable breakaway on a rain-soaked second stage from Mataró to Barcelona to clinch the leader’s red jersey at the Vuelta a España.
After the podium celebration, Andrea expressed his satisfaction with his performance and the trust placed in him by his team. He said, “I trusted myself. The team trusted me, and we went from the start of the stage for the red jersey.”
With a gap of only six seconds to make up, Andrea was determined to close the distance following the team time trial in Barcelona. Despite facing stormy conditions and flooded roads, he went on the attack and joined four other riders in a breakaway on the first climb, the Coll de Sant Bartomeu.
Reflecting on his decision to go on the attack, Andrea said, “From the start, the whole bunch knew it would be crazy. I thought, maybe in front it would be better than to stay in the group. It was! I am really, really happy.”
Once out in front, Andrea focused on maintaining a sufficient advantage until the nine-kilometer marker, where the race organizers took the times for the general classification due to safety concerns on the final circuit. With other riders in the breakaway fading, only two remained alongside Andrea when they reached the crucial point. He had built a comfortable lead by then, but there were still bonus seconds up for grabs at the finish line.
Uncertain if he had secured the red jersey, Andrea and his team anxiously waited for confirmation. “We started the race with a six-second gap, and we crossed the line where the GC was neutralized with a 15 or 20-second gap. I knew that maybe only two guys in the race could make up the difference with the bonus seconds for the red jersey, but we had to wait until the confirmation,” Andrea explained.
Eventually, the confirmation arrived, and Andrea was overjoyed. At just 22 years old, he also secured the white young-rider’s jersey. Thrilled with his accomplishments, Andrea planned to celebrate with his loved ones: “Now, I will call my girlfriend, my mother, my father, all my friends.”
In the upcoming mountainous stage in Andorra, Andrea will focus on defending his lead. But for now, he is relishing the moment. “Tonight we will celebrate with the whole team at the dinner table,” he said. “And tomorrow, we will see!”
