Looking for the right opportunity
# Breakaway Hopes Limited as Giro d’Italia Nears Conclusion
As the Giro d’Italia enters its final week, breakaway riders are finding fewer opportunities to make their mark. The seventeenth stage offered a brief chance for attackers, with Jonas Vingegaard ultimately seizing victory in the preceding stage designed for sprinters. In what may be the only favorable day for escapees this week, Rémi Cavagna attempted a solo escape but succumbed to the hilly finish in Andalo. With just two mountain stages and a concluding sprint in Rome left on the itinerary, the fight for freedom in the peloton continues.
The action resumed after the third rest day with a particularly short 113-kilometre stage in Switzerland, culminating in a summit finish at Carì (11.6 km at 8%). The early narrative centered around whether a breakaway would find its footing in the waning stretches of the Corsa Rosa. “We obviously target every stage, and for us it mostly comes down to the first part of the stage, when the breakaway forms,” reflected Frédéric Guesdon. Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that Visma-Lease a Bike was intent on taking the stage win, stifling the hopes of the breakaway hopefuls. “The guys still tried, especially Josh on the first climbs, but we understood it wasn’t going to be our day,” Frédéric lamented.
On the following day, the competition took a sharper turn in a hilly stage with an elevation gain of 3,200 meters but without a summit finish. Frédéric expressed, “It was a stage that suited us, but like on many stages, there were 40 to 50 kilometers of flat roads before the first climb, so it was very difficult to break away.” The team managed to get Rémi Cavagna into an initial breakaway, providing a glimmer of hope. However, the race’s pace proved too relentless, leaving the team’s riders unable to respond effectively when the climbs commenced.
Cavagna heroically tried to push forward with nearly 120 kilometers still to race, embarking on a solo adventure. The initial positive signs, when his lead grew to 2’30,” faded as the stage progressed. “If he could have been joined by three or four riders, it might have worked,” Frédéric analyzed. Despite the challenges, he added, “we have no regrets about Rémi’s performance; the profile made it difficult for him even without the attempt.”
By the end of the stage, Michael Valgren claimed victory, with Rémy Rochas crossing the line first for Groupama-FDJ United in 25th position. A final potential opportunity for breakaway riders presented itself on Thursday, where the early hills failed to provide any significant division within the peloton. “The peloton hadn’t really split apart,” Frédéric pointed out, leading to a controlled finish down to the last kilometers. Axel Huens just missed the crucial split, and only Brieuc Rolland was able to finish with the main group, where Paul Magnier ultimately won the sprint.
Looking ahead, the team acknowledges the challenges that lie within the two mountain stages before the sprinting finale in Rome. “The briefing stays open every day. We know the next two stages will be difficult, but we keep short-term goals focused on each day, and we’re also thinking about Rome with Paul,” Frédéric concluded. With the competition heating up, the remaining stages promise to be both thrilling and pivotal as the Giro d’Italia reaches its climax.
