Rookie Rider Derek Gee Makes a Mark in the Giro d’Italia
Premier Tech’s Derek Gee continues to impress in his first-ever Grand Tour, the Giro d’Italia. On stage 13, the Canadian neo-pro finished fourth in the high mountains, exceeding his own expectations.
“Looking at myself and then the other guys, some of the best climbers in the world, I was thinking that I didn’t belong here. But my legs felt really good so I just carried on and I’m really happy with the result,” Gee said after the stage.
Despite the stage being shortened to just 75 km due to bad weather conditions, it remained incredibly challenging. Gee joined his American teammate Matthew Riccitello in a small breakaway group, showcasing his strength in the mountains.
“Matthews was super active, but he kept getting chased back so I really wanted to get up there and help him get a gap. My legs were good so I kept going and I ended up on the road with a bunch of skinny boys,” Gee humorously remarked, highlighting his own weight of 75kg, which is not typical for a climber.
Gee maintained a high pace throughout the stage, creating a significant gap on the peloton. Even on the grueling final climb, he hung on with some of the best climbers in the world, defying his own doubts.
“Even when we got into the valley and had a good gap, I still didn’t really believe that I could fight for the win. I was sure I would just blow up and come to a standstill on that last climb because it was so hard, but my sports director, Oscar, paced me through it really well.”
Ultimately, Gee had to relinquish his position but managed to secure a commendable fourth-place finish. This achievement adds to his prior second-place finishes and solidifies his status as the standout revelation of this year’s Giro d’Italia.
“I can’t believe what I’ve done here. Coming into this Giro, I definitely wouldn’t have expected this, but I’m really happy with where my legs are. The whole team is flying, and I just can’t wait for the next couple of days!”
With his impressive performances, Gee has proven that he is a force to be reckoned with, despite being a rookie in the world of professional cycling.
