2022 Giro d’Italia – Stage 13 – Highlights
Report
The trigger went well in Messina on Wednesday, for Arnaud Démare and his teammates. The day after his first victory of the season, on the Giro, the Picard rider has therefore recurred this Thursday in Calabria. Still perfectly put into orbit by his train, this time he set all the sprinters on the board, although the victory was granted to him only for a few millimeters. Thanks to this new prestigious success, he now has seven stage successes in the Giro d’Italia, making him the most prolific Frenchman in history on the event. In front of Bernard Hinault and Jacques Anquetil, excuse a little. Finally, he also, and logically, increased his lead in the points standings before a tough weekend.
It is with a light soul and a certain euphoria that the Groupama-FDJ Cycling Team made Wednesday evening the transit from Sicily to Calabria, via the ferry. For Arnaud Démare as for his closest teammates, the victory in Messina really gave birth to a relief that accompanied them again this Thursday when they went to Palmi for the start of the sixth stage. “This morning, the atmosphere was super cool and quiet,” said Jacopo Guarnieri. The pressure no longer weighed on the shoulders of the Picard rider and his group before a new stage for sprinters to Scalea. A slight difficulty was certainly on the program, at the very beginning of the race, but the day promised to be very linear. “Honestly, the preparation of the course was one of the simplest in recent years,” said Sébastien Joly. Concretely, we were practically on the same road for nearly 200 kilometers. The wind was a bit unfavorable and the day was long.” For a time, there was no candidate for a lost breakaway. Diego Rosa (Eolo-Kometa) devoted himself after thirty kilometers and from then on engaged in an endless solo. In the peloton, Clément Davy was like the day before positioned himself in the lead to quietly lead the boat. “Physically, it was obviously not the same as the last two days,” said the young Mayenne, “but we all needed it in the peloton. Mentally, on the other hand, it was long.” On a senator’s pace, the stage followed its course until Diego Rosa was reinstated, a little less than thirty kilometers from the end.
“For 100-120 kilometers, we were really asleep, and in these moments we have to find the energy to get back on track,” explained Arnaud Démare. In fact, it happens naturally. The adrenaline rises at the sight of the signs 50, 45, 40 kilometers from the finish. You can feel the nervousness of the peloton climbing.” “In the last 20-25 kilometers, it didn’t unplug,” commented Clément. You had to get involved mentally and physically. It was really exhausting for me and I went up to about ten kilometers, which was the instruction. We were on the left side, and the wind from the left, so it was hard to hold the helm to the end.” However, this is what he managed to do, before leaving the baton to Tobias Ludvigsson. From then on, the fight of positions was constant. “There was a strategic point,” pointed out Sébastien. It was the roundabout 3.5 kilometers away. I don’t normally repeat this kind of information twice, but I did this time. A first time at 30 kilometers, and a second time at 15 terminals”.. The message was well received since Ignatas Konovalovas, then at the shunting of the train, led to the exit of this “obstacle”. The final packaging then started with the entire train. Arnaud Démare repeated the story: “The team has still done a huge job, I think it showed on the screen. I couldn’t have had better. We had a great placement in each strategic area. The whole pack was fresh, but the guys were able to stay in front. We then made a great train. Morkov and Cavendish went up to our height at 500 meters, I felt that I was a time behind but I waited a little in the wheel of Jacopo. I knew Cavendish was going to keep the door closed on the left. So I had to sprint on the right, and I finally did a sprint of just 100 meters.”
When he was finally able to open the door, the former France champion let go of everything. “It’s not my style to come back like that from the back, but I felt I had the power,” he added. I just had to find the opening and the time to pass. I thought it was going to be really fair. I came back really strong, I threw the bike in front of Ewan, and on the line I felt in front. But as long as the photo-finish has not fallen, we are not sure of anything.” Unlike the day before, the difference therefore required a thorough examination of the images of the arrival on Thursday. The verdict was announced after two minutes of apnea, and it was then favorable to picard, who was able to let his joy explode alongside Jacopo Guarnieri. “As I often say, a victory is not at stake,” said Arnaud. A month ago, I might have been second. There, it is in my favor. It rewards the work of the whole team who still made a great train. I’m super happy, it’s great.” “Today he waited, he was calm, sure of himself and I think the switch went into mode yesterday,” said Jacopo Guarnieri. It’s wonderful. He was ahead of the best sprinters in the world. Personally, it was also very special as I had a bittersweet day yesterday. I was super happy for the guys, for Arnaud, for Ramon, but I was disappointed in myself. I have a rather marked pride and I wanted to react today. We had a lot of confidence after yesterday, the train was still super strong and I’m super happy to have been able to participate. We knew that once the wheel was in motion, it was easier to spin it. At the beginning of the Giro, we said to ourselves: “Guys, we’re strong, we’re in shape, we just have to keep everything in line”. Today was just perfect and so we can be very satisfied.”