Lucid, Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step), 17th in the first stage of the Giro 10 seconds behind the winner of the day, Jhonatan Narvaez, felt he lacked legs this Saturday to hope for better in the final, despite a good position in the platoon.
“(In) the finale, I knew it was going to be tense and explosive with the last bump,” he explained to Eurosport. I think we (the team) did what we had to do. I was where I needed to be, with the right position, but my legs spoke and I missed them a little. I gave my all, I had the right position at the start of the climb so I have no regrets. The objective was to switch and play for the win, that’s what I tried to do. »
“It wasn’t necessarily the plan for me to be in the breakaway”
Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Wanty), leader of the mountain classification
Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Wanty), returned to his good performance this Saturday, he who was very active at the front and is the first leader of the mountain classification: “It was not necessarily the plan is for me to be in the breakaway. We had three runners designated to be attentive. It took a little while (to set up). The designated youngster, Dries De Pooter (21 years old)? was very valiant but he perhaps provoked things a little too much. At one point, he was surprised so I jumped in to be represented because we had the idea of racing hard for Bini (Biniam Girmay) but we knew it was going to be very hard. (…) The objective is clearly assumed: it is to win a stage in the Giro, whether for me or, much more, for Bini. »
