Nicola Boem (Bardiani-CSF) took a hugely surprising victory in today’s almost completely flat stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia when he and three breakaway companions managed to hold off a hard-chasing peloton. The Italian was clearly the strongest in the finale and easily beat Matteo Busato (Southeast) and Alessandro Malaguti (Nippo-Vini Fantini) in the sprint.
One year ago Bardiani-CSF had an amazing Giro d’Italia when they won three stages in the second half of the race. Their run of success started when Marco Canola took a hugely surprising win on a day tailor-made for sprinters.
Today history repeated itself when a break made up mostly of riders from pro continental teams turned out to be surprisingly strong on the easiest stage in the first half of the Giro. And again Bardiani had the strongest rider in the group that sprinted for the win as Nicola Boem turned out to be the strongest of the four riders that decided the stage.
”It is unbelievable," he said. "I can’t find the words to describe this moment. Today everybody thought it would end with a classic bunch sprint. I went in the break to show our team and sponsors. Then with 20km to go we still had more than two minutes and we began to believe in it.
"Marangoni attacked with 1km to go but I was smart to keep him just 200 meters in front me. When we arrived on the final straight, I knew I would be the fastest and it was true. It’s a huge win both for me and the whole team and I wish it is only the first.
W"ith 20 kilometres to go, we still had a lead of 2'30". We rode at 100% until there were 2 kilometres to go, then from there, the skirmishes began. I did pretty well to close the gap on Alan, otherwise he'd have made it, and then, on the curve 500m from the finish, I attacked from behind him, and I thought, either I get him, or he wins the stage.
"When Alan was ahead of me, I was only thinking of myself, as if there was no one behind me. I was afraid that, when I caught him, they'd counter attack from behind, but I saw that Matteo Busato and Alessandro Malaguti were in some difficulty and were struggling to close the gap, so I thought, I have to give it 100% all the way to the finish line, because an opportunity like this is one in a hundred."
Boem now also leads the points competition.
"There's no captain at Bardiani CSF," he said. "When we work out the tactics at the start fo the stage, the philosphy is that everyone gives what he can and there's no captain. I don't feel like a captain. I've always done what my directors say, and today, I was the lucky one. I have to thank them, too, because every so often they put faith in me and encourage me, and today it came. I'll do what I can each day to defend the jersey."
”Nicola was perfect, proving to be a strong rider with a great talent. On the bike he’s smart and he reahs the race in a really good way. [Manger] Roberto Reverberi and I just told him to be calm and focused on the finale. In the last kilometre he was perfect, simply the strongest, sports director Mirko Rossato said.
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