It was very flat stage and it could be boring if there won't be rest day before and if there won't be a wind.
Rest day passed very fast for me. 3 hours of training, meeting with sponsors, meeting with fans, press conference and it is already time to sleep. I had just few minutes free for call my family and fiancee.
As I already mentioned, there was wind today. As far as I know, it was over 40 km/h and sometimes it was even over 60 km/h. In this circumstances, of course, we expected echelons, and we were right. Team Saxo Bank increased their speed in a middle of the stage, when it was over 70 km left.
They were so strong, that noone could set on that group. Next group was made by team Sky, that worked for my main rival, Nibali.
I with my team mates was in third group. It was our... no! It was my mistake. But the team is concentrated on my chances very well and we made everything to catch that groups.
20 km's we chased them and in the end, we made it! With 20 kilometers to go last group, in which Ginanni rode chased down us and there started fight for a position. Francesco, who was tired by chasing front group, tried to set on a right wheel, but he didn't succeed and finished only 13th. The stage was won by Matthew Goss (again! this guy seems to be very strong! Columbians should be very happy, even without Cav)
Another boring flat stage. It was the wind again, but this time we were aware and no echelons were made. At the end team Columbia made fantastic train, with Goss and Greipel. Ginanni was on Greipel's wheel, so he had very good position for... being second on the stage.
Stage results:
1
Andre Greipel
Team HTC - Columbia
4h04'21
2
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
3
Matthew Goss
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
4
Ruben Perez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
5
Jimmy Engoulvent
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
6
Jacopo Guarnieri
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
7
Fabrice Jeandesboz
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
8
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
9
Mirco Lorenzetto
Team Katusha
s.t.
10
Robert Forster
Team Milram
s.t.
Stage five. Brindisi - Foggia
Last stage before main race will start. Of course, sprinters didn't want to loose maybe their last opportunity for a stage victory. It was the very same scenario - Columbia's train. Goss, Greipel, Ginanni again on his wheel. But the power of Greipel wasn't so good today, and Jimmy Engoulvent have brought first victory to his continental team!
Tomorrow it will be stage for the Blockhaus. I'm little afraid of it, but I'm not afraid to loose a stage, I just don't want my team to fatigue too much, and as I'm best placed favorite, I will need to loose a stage, but not too much. It's difficult task.
Giro organizers as always made the very first mountain stage in first week and it contains only one big mountain with flat stage before that mountain. With this relief the group climbing very fast, even with tough slope.
Same situation was today. Blockhaus is very tough mountain, maybe one of the toughest of this race and to be honest I was a bit afraid of it. And with opinion that I shared in last post I woke up today with not very good feelings. You know, there are days when you wake up and already knows that you'll win today. This time it was contrary - I felt that I will loose.
The race was played in expected scenario. Breakaway was catched before main climb, and when we begun to climb, some riders like Uran, Bruseghin and <I don't remember who exactly it was > thought that they are the best and attacked right from mountain foot.
We didn't bother to chase them, we just made a pace. Androni Giocattoli, Liquigas and of course Sky were in front and it took just 10 kms to made a group of main contenders. with their main lieutenants. I was happy to see Scarponi and Marzano near me.
Main work started when Cunego attacked.
Only Nibali reacted on it, but in few seconds I also made my move, but they already were far away. I joined forces with Soler, Basso and his domestique, Kiserlovski (it's very good climber, I should be aware of him!) and we quickly came to pair in front.
I thought that there will be attacks again, so I tried to be in first 3 riders in the group, but it was a mistake. There weren't any attack, we just made very... no, VERY fast pace, so that I had to slow down with 1 km to finish. I couldn't ride so fast and I am very sorry that I was so self-confident yesterday.
Nibali and Cunego were too strong today and I think they had made some deal, with Nibali winning a stage and Italian champion getting Maglia Rosa. Well, maybe not, but Nibali was unstoppable today.
Cunego, finished with team Sky' leader, gained some bonus seconds and became overall leader.
I finished 6th with 40 seconds lag. It's not a reason for panic, but it is sign that I have to be more cautious and strong.
I was angry. I was angry on riders, who made very fast pace for last 20 km's, I was angry on mechanic, who changed my front wheel too slow, I was angry on Ginanni, who again didn't chose right wheel and therefore loosed his chance to win a stage, I was angry on myself for being so weak yesterday...
So when Cunego started to sprint and on his wheel I've seen Lopez from Euskaltel, I decided to show everyone who I am. It took just 200 meters to oversprint everyone for bike length.
I had won a stage of Giro and with bonification seconds I am now on 3rd position overall, but I am angry on myself again. Why am I so choppy? Why can't I just set in a bunch and not fight with sprinters? Why can't I save my energy for the mountains?
Hey Max. Hows the PC? Is it running fine yet? I just want to let you know that this was either my favourite or one of my favourite stories/reads so I hope you continue as soon as your PC starts working again. I like the 1st person aspect to your story as my story is like that as well.
