Royal stage of the Giro d’Italia: Pogacar in sight and Asturian Pelayo Sanchez tries again

Tadej Pogacar took a convincing victory on the royal stage of the Giro, the 222-kilometer route between Manerba del Garda and Livigno. The Slovenian surpassed the Colombian Nairo Quintana with a spectacular attack in the last meters and established himself as the current king of cycling and the absolute leader of the Italian competition.

Quintana was unable to complete a breakaway that began 20 kilometers from the finish, helped by Asturian Pelayo Sanchez and in which he remained ahead until two kilometers from the finish. The Mallia Rosa Giro crowned Livigno at 2385 meters with a time of 6 hours 11 minutes on the royal stage.

Another exhibition, already another, of a cyclist born in Komenda (Slovenia) in 1998. What makes this exhibition special is that he is the first to sign a contract at the most important stage of the Giro, as this is his first participation. He waited, as always, for the right moment, and when he turned on the turbo, he had no rivals. Even the great Quintana, winner of the same event in 2014, could not withstand the hellish pace of the now historic cyclist who, at 25, is struggling to win the Giro Tour double.

The Giro is in his hands after the time trial in the designated area this Saturday and yesterday’s superb performance when he raises his hands alone on the symbolic climb of Mottolino, 4.7 km with 7.6%, maximum climbs of 19% and the goal is high 2385 meters above sea level. sea ​​level.

Having caught up with Quintana, Pogacar passed him with amazing ease and raised his hands again alone after a powerful climb in which he was the center of attention. Surrounded by people who supported him. The Giro is doomed after another Slovenian exhibition.

Great performance by Pelayo Sanchez. The Giro is designed to reaffirm Pogacar’s dominance and showcase some young talent. Asturian Pelayo Sanchez is part of this select group. Yesterday he once again demonstrated his class by taking part in a rout in which the candidacy of Nairo Quintana was forged, only to be neutralized by Pogacar. The Asturian, already a stage winner in this edition, demonstrates the reasons why Movistar entrusted him with the Giro and the bright future that lies ahead.