“Crazy. That must be a dream” – German professional cyclist amazes at the Giro d’Italia
Status: 5:55 p.m
His second coup: Nico Denz celebrates at the end of the 14th stage of the Giro d’Italia
Those: AP/Massimo Paolone
Even his first stage win at the Giro d’Italia was a surprise coup. Now the German Nico Denz followed suit and caused a sensation again. In an impressive way.
Nico Denz got his second stage win at the 106th Giro d’Italia with an energetic performance. The 29-year-old German professional cyclist won the sprint of a breakaway group on the 14th stage after 194 kilometers from Sierre to Cassano Magnago on Saturday. He won by a hair’s breadth ahead of Canadian Derek Gee.
It was only on Thursday that Denz won the twelfth stage in Rivoli – also as a breakaway – and thus celebrated the greatest success of his career. Now he’s celebrating again. Overall, it was the third day’s victory by a German at this year’s Tour of Italy. Pascal Ackermann won the longest stage at 219 kilometers on Wednesday.
Nico Denz pops the corks on the podium
Those: AFP/LUCA BETTINI
“That’s crazy. I don’t understand at the moment what is happening. It must be a dream,” said Denz after his new coup: “I went all or nothing. I didn’t want to be fourth.” Denz rode almost alone over the last two kilometers, 14 seconds down on the three leaders before he then had the greatest staying power in the sprint.
Favorites for the overall win 21 minutes behind
The contenders for the overall victory around the former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas and the German hopeful Lennard Kämna took it easy and reached the finish line more than 21 minutes behind. As a result, Frenchman Bruno Armirail, who was one of the breakaways, took over the pink jersey.
The change in leadership should come in handy for Thomas, because his Ineos team now has to do less management work. Armirail is likely to lose the Maglia Rosa again on the difficult mountain stages at the latest. Otherwise, nothing changed in the distances among the favorites.
On Sunday, the Giro continues with the 15th stage from Seregno to Bergamo over 195 kilometers. Three climbs in the second category and one climb in the first category await the drivers.
