I Settimana Ciclistica Italiana – Sulle strade della Sardegna
Stage 2: Sassari – Oristano (184,3 km)
“Here in Sardinia we lack many things, but one thing is never missing: the wind”. An elderly man shakes his head as he sits on a straw chair in front of his front door in the centre of Sassari, amazed at the colourful caravan that has peacefully invaded his street for the start of the second stage of the Settimana Ciclistica Italiana.
From Sassari to Oristano, 185 km with a difficult first part and a climb 60 km from the finish to make everything more complicated, all swept by the Sardinian wind: everyone was waiting for the sprint, and the sprint was but only for a group of about forty riders able to take advantage on the climb. Among them, our Ropero who confirmed himself as the most fit of the Italian team. In the end Ackermann (Bora Hansgrohe) won over Peak (Bike Exchange) and Vanmarcke (Israel Start Up Nation).
Luca Pacioni: “It’s a pity, because I hoped I could get to play the sprint. Unfortunately, the last climb was decisive: we broke away and thought we could catch the first ones, but the group in front went very fast and we could not catch them. The stage was really hard, the first part was very nervous and we went fast: tomorrow is another day, I want to try”.
Yes, tomorrow: third stage from Oristano to Cagliari, 180 km and two KOM. We go south.
[ PhotoGomezSport]
