104th Giro d’Italia (2.UWT) Stage 6: Grotte di Frasassi >> Ascoli Piceno (160km)
Attila Valter has so far mainly ringed a bell as the Hungarian who fell spectacularly at the World Championship time trial for espoirs in Yorkshire. Today – after another day of rain – he proves that he can put a lot more on his business card.
The Swiss Mäder put his decisive acceleration 3 kilometers from the finish and had no ally in the headwind on the final climb, but just held his ground and cleared the sky for his employer between the showers. Egan Bernal (Ineos) crossed the line in second a few seconds down to the winner, a strong Dan Martin a fantastic 3rd beating the Belgian sensational young talent Remco Evenepoel (DQT) into 4th. Nico Roche finished in a big group about 14 minutes down.
Gino Mäder (stage winner) told Sporza: “The return of Mikel Landa was such a shame and we wanted to honor him in the leading group. Fortunately, teammate Matej Mohoric was very strong. This is so nice after that stage in Paris-Nice, where Primoz Roglic just took me in. In the end, I could only think about that stage. It was in my mind that it would happen again. But now I could really enjoy it. That I am the first Gino to win a stage after Gino Bartali in the Giro? I will not become a legend “
Attila Valter (pink jersey) told Sporza: “I am so surprised and so happy. I knew my climber’s legs were good, but I had to hold out against the best climbers. I was very motivated and the weather was not easy. I can really cry. I knew the differences with Vlasov, Evenepoel, and Bernal by heart and I felt that I still had power. I hope to enjoy this jersey for as long as possible “
