Sebastian Berwick Claims Third Place on Stage 12 of Giro d’Italia
Israel – Premier Tech’s Sebastian Berwick secured the team’s third podium finish in this year’s Giro d’Italia, clinching third place on stage 12 of the prestigious Italian Grand Tour.
With the undulating terrain making it evident that today was ideal for a breakaway, the IPT riders were determined to be in contention and had multiple riders in the early moves. Eventually, Berwick, Stevie Williams, and Marco Frigo found themselves in a group of 30 riders that successfully broke away.
As the stage progressed, the breakaway split, with five riders managing to create a gap. Berwick swiftly joined this group, and they quickly established a significant lead over the chasers.
At the top of the final climb, only two other riders managed to keep up with the impressive pace set by the 23-year-old Australian cyclist. The first chase group, including Frigo, trailed by more than three minutes, leaving the top three riders to battle it out for victory. Berwick ultimately finished third in the sprint, showcasing a remarkable performance by himself and the entire team.
Reflecting on his race, Berwick expressed, “That last climb was my last opportunity I guess but in the end, they were strong enough to stay with me. I didn’t have much in the sprint obviously. 58kg vs 75kg, it’s a bit hard to win but I kept fighting. It’s a Giro stage, and I was in the hunt for the win, so you never know what happens. Steven Bradbury and all that.“
Frigo crossed the line in fifth place after launching a late attack from the chase group, showcasing the ongoing success of the young IPT riders in the Giro d’Italia.
“I tried to get away on the last climb just to take on the descent less stressful. At the bottom, I waited for the group and then I went one more time on the last kilometer to finish in fifth,” Frigo explained. “I’m really happy with this result in my first Giro and also with how my legs felt today. Let’s see what we can do in the next stages. I think there is more to come!”
Looking ahead, the Giro d’Italia continues with a challenging mountain stage to Crans-Montana, and Berwick assured, “We will go again tomorrow! Two seconds and a third place now. We are fighting for that win, and we hope it comes soon.“
