The general classification picture at the Giro d'Italia is still rather lacking in definition, and so it is perhaps fitting, then, that the race is being led by a rider still unsure of how precisely to define his ambition over the coming ten days.
Bob Jungels (Etixx-QuickStep) enjoyed a tranquil second day in the maglia rosa on the rain-soaked stage 12 to Bibione – certainly compared to his defiant attack on the road to Asolo the previous day – but he faces into a sterner test of his resolve as the Giro prepares to enter the high mountains.
Though Jungels' potential as a stage racer has been touted since he turned professional, his back catalogue in the Grand Tours is a limited one. He abandoned his debut Vuelta a España in 2014 and then placed 27th overall in his first Tour de France last year, and there is understandable uncertainty over where precisely he fits in the overarching narrative of this Giro.
ADVERTISEMENT
Jungels holds a lead of just 24 seconds over Andrey Amador (Movistar), but is more than a minute clear of the principal pre-race favourites for final overall victory in Milan, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana).
"Maybe you have to ask the others if they see me as a contender, I don't know," Jungels said on Thursday. "For me, it's the first time I'm in the GC of a Grand Tour, so like I said before I'm going to take it day by day and we'll see tomorrow what is going to happen."
While the mammoth Dolomite leg on stage 14 boasts the more storied names – the Passo Pordoi, Passo Sella and Passo Giau are all on the menu – Friday's less heralded ascents in Friuli of the Matajur, Crai, Porzus and Valle also have the potential to break the race apart.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest News http://ift.tt/1NBmp30
No comments:
Post a Comment