Stage 4 & 5 - Coppi e Bartali

And we are done with an exciting five days of racing in Italy! The outcome couldn’t have been any better with a GC podium sweep from some of the team’s young guns, and this race was another big step in their progression.

I came into this race unhealthy and frustrated to be missing Volta Catalunya, but now that I’m coming out the other side, I have a greater appreciation for being a part of this team. I’m better another honed in with my teammates and being a part of any win feels great. This one really stands out because it featured such a young up and coming group; I was happy to lay it on the line for them.

Looking back the past two days, our seven-man squad took the race head on and asserted ourselves as the team to beat.

Stage 4

Yesterday’s “sprint” stage was dictated by a breakaway and some teams chasing them severely miscalculated the chase. We were happy to sit back and save a bit of energy for the final stage but we were still all hands-on-deck where we needed to be in the crucial moments of the race.

Observing the teams who lost out on the sprint was perplexing as they clearly had the horsepower but mismanaged their resources bringing the gap down amazingly fast from 8 minutes to 2 minutes but then let it creep back up. They underestimated the final kick from the break and the role GC team position fighting would have in inadvertently distrusting the chase in the final lap.

Stage 5

Today’s final stage was sure to be a doozy with the classic Italian roads--busted pavement and hardly a straight kilometer. I was pleased to finally feel great from the start and put in some big efforts over the first climb to keep things under control and key rivals in check.

 From there, our freight train of Sam and Cam went to work. When a few counterattacks happened from guys sitting around a minute back in GC, it didn’t even remotely phase or deter them. Those guys dropped us off into awesome position with two climbs to go, and this is where the meat of my work took place. We paced some dangerous surges from Movistar up the climb and battled them to stay in the front group over the top.

After analyzing this effort post-stage, I would see this was my best five minutes power of the year and another good indication that my health and form are on the return.

The early break was almost back, but we were happy to leave them out there at a minute and so. Other teams came to drive the pace into the final climb. Rob and I used our last big digs to deliver the guys into the final climb in first position. Our three leaders set a super hard pace that deterred anyone from getting away. Damo sprinted to a solid third on the stage, and they locked up 1,2,3 on GC.    

This race maybe didn’t have the depth of some of the World Tour races, but it was great to control a race from start to finish and give Lucas, Damo and Nick a chance to shine. For me, it’s a bit of an adjustment. In the past, a race like this would have meant an opportunity for a result, but I found myself inspired and excited to execute a role for the guys and was really pleased with how we all came together and delivered in key moments.

Now it’s back to Girona, for a quick reset and then a build towards an anticipated Giro start.