Giro d’Italia: “The Giro Went Well But Not Perfectly!“

© Russ Ellis / Cyclingimages

One could say “the Gladiators have arrived“ when the Giro d’Italia peloton looped around the historic Colosseum in Rome on stage 21, and finally crossed the finish line in the light of the setting sun over Italy’s capital. 

Three weeks, 21 stages and 3443 kilometres from Tirana in Albania, southern Italy, the white roads of Tuscany, a finish in Slovenia, the gruelling steep slopes of Colle delle Finestre and finally to the Eternal City - the first Grand Tour of the season is history. 

Tudor Pro Cycling takes home a top-10 overall with Michael Storer, the stage podiums of Maikel Zijlaard and Florian Stork and the emotions and experience of finishing the team’s second Grand Tour. 

Michael Storer, Rick Pluimers, Yannis Voisard and Matteo Tosatto share their conclusions after a late finish in Rome and some well-deserved Pizza in the team bus. 

Australian climber Michael Storer finished the Giro d’Italia in 10th overall and secured the second Grand Tour top 10 of his career: “The Giro went well but not perfectly for me. I was glad to be competing with the best GC riders in the race but in some moments I lost important time which cost me the opportunity to achieve a better result. For the team it was a good Giro, we were often not so far off a stage win and also three of our riders finished their first Grand Tour. Time to recover and focus on the next goals of the season.“

Rick Pluimers was one of those riders who finished their first Grand Tour on Sunday evening in Rome:

“Reflecting on the Giro, I must say it was intense but also a great experience. I liked those days when I could be part of the breakaway, be up there and at least fight for a result. Finishing in Rome was also very special. The ride through the Vatican City, being blessed by the Pope, and then racing around the Colosseum are hard to describe. Stage 19 is one I’ll remember; I’ve never done so much climbing in one day, and I think I’ve stretched my physiological limits on this day. Looking at the form, it’s a good sign I was improving over the time of this Giro and that the legs were still turning well throughout the third week.“ 

For Yannis Voisard, it was a childhood dream that came true by crossing the start- and finish line of the Giro d’Italia: “It was a childhood dream to race the Giro d'Italia!

Looking back now, this Giro was a fantastic race with tough days and unforgettable memories.

I loved the atmosphere along the road and the passion of the fans in Italy - goosebumps, not only once.

My favorite memory from this race must be the day of stage 16. It was a big day in the mountains, and I was able to be in the breakaway. On the last climb, I was alone at the front end of the race, fighting with all I had left in my legs. 

The word “borraccia“ (bidon in Italian) will still be in my ears for quite some time - every day, you’ve heard the fans shouting for a “borraccia“from start to finish and from every direction.“

Sports Director Matteo Tosatto looks back on action-packed and intense three weeks of Grand Tour racing: "For me, it was a beautiful Giro. It was very intense but beautiful! We started very well in Albania, had a good first TT with Michael Storer, moved to Italy, got our first podium finish with Maikel Zijlaard, and gained reasonable confidence in the race's first week. After that, it was a roller coaster for us. The crashes in Naples, a tough day on the Strade Bianche stage, and a strong 2nd place finish in Asiago with Florian Stork by the end of the second week. The third week was a big fight in the mountains; we consolidated the top 10 overall with Michael Storer and arrived in Rome with this result. Unfortunately, we lost Marco Brenner on stage 19 due to a crash. Luckily, he sustained no serious injuries and can ride his bike again very soon.

With more luck and fewer crashes, we might have been able to fight for 6th or 7th in the GC, but I think it still was a positive Giro for the team and our riders - even though we were not able to achieve the targeted stage win. I'm proud of how the boys raced and worked together as a team; it was great to see their dedication and fighting spirit."

Asked what he’s looking forward to the most after the Giro d’Italia:

(laughs) “Not having to pack the suitcase tomorrow morning!“