Cycling: Geschke is targeting the mountain jersey at the Giro

Cycling Geschke is targeting the mountain jersey at the Giro

Simon Geschke is still 46 points behind the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar in the mountain classification. photo

© Daniel Cole/AP/dpa

In 2022, Simon Geschke wore the mountain jersey for nine days at the Tour de France before Jonas Vingegaard passed. Now the veteran is making another attempt at his last Giro.

Experienced Simon Geschke is hunting for the mountain jersey at the Giro d’Italia. The 38-year-old, who is retiring at the end of the season, took sixth place at the mountain finish in Bocca della Selva on the tenth stage, having previously won the first mountain classification of the day. Geschke, who reached the finish after 142 kilometers 1:24 minutes behind the French day winner Valentin Paret-Peintre, gained 22 points on superstar Tadej Pogacar in the mountain classification. However, the gap is still an impressive 46 points.

Nevertheless, Geschke, who led the mountain classification for nine days at the Tour de France in 2022, will wear the mountain jersey on Wednesday as second place in the classification. Because Pogacar, as the overall leader, continues to wear pink. The Slovenian took it easy after the rest day. He crossed the finish line 3:14 minutes behind his rivals and is still 2:40 minutes ahead of the Colombian Daniel Felipe Martinez from the German Bora-hansgrohe team in the overall standings.

Cycling fans have to forego another highlight in the mountains. Due to the risk of avalanches, the 2,758 meter high Stelvio Pass cannot be skied on the queen stage next Tuesday. Snowfall had affected the course, instead the 16th stage goes over the lower Umbrail Pass.

The sprinters could come into play again on Wednesday. On the eleventh section over 207 kilometers from Foiano di val Fortore to Francavilla al mare, the second half is completely flat. However, the field of sprinters has already thinned out a little. Olav Kooij, the Dutch stage winner on Sunday, just like the German sprinter Max Kanter, dropped out after the rest day due to a flu-like infection. Kanter’s compatriot Marius Mayrhofer also had to drop out due to illness.

dpa

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