This time, no punctures hamoered Colombia-Coldeportes Rodolfo Torres’ run to Brentonico, where Giro del Trentino Melinda 2nd stage’s uphill finish was set, and the leader of the Escarabajos did not disappoint anyone in the queen stage of the demanding Italian stage race, finishing in fifth place and wearing the best climber’s jersey after passing first atop the Santa Barbara Pass, the hardest climb of this year’s edition.

On his way, Torres had to face Team Sky’s Richie Porte. In the form of his life, the Australian soloed to the finish after attacking in the final kilometes of the Brentonico climb, taking over the GC lead in the process. Behind him, Spaniard Mikel Landa (Astana, at 24 seconds) and – 32 seconds behind – a quartet including Damiano Cunego (Nippo-Fantini), Leopold Konig (Team Sky), Torres and Edoardo Zardini (Bardiani-CSF). 

As predicted, the main favorites came to the fore on the tough Santa Barbara pass, with 8,7% average gradient: little by little, the peloton came back on the six morning escapees - Hansen (Cannondale), L. Sterbini (Bardiani), Evtushenko (Rusvelo), Tedeschi (Southeast), Quaade (Cult Energy) and Postlberger (Tirol Cycling Team) – and reducing in numbers until only 18 riders got together atop the only Hors Category climb of the race, with Rodolfo Torres passing first on the KOM line. 

Backed by his teammates, Torres lived up to his team’s expectations, climbing up to 12th overall, 1.36 behind Porte: “I think we have a chance to make it better,” Torres said, “as tomorrow we are up for another tough stage, and the legs keep spinning very good. Today, two hard climbs tested the overall contenders, and I seized the chance to wear the best climber’s jersey: that’s always a very important symbol, even more in Colombia.

“I clearly felt the confidence from my team, that made a good job in supporting me, and I hope it will play an important role tomorrow too. Defending the jersey while targeting the GC won’t be easy, as the first KOM come quite a long way to the finish, but we will make evaluations with the team and try to reach our targets.”

Sports Director Valerio Tebaldi showed satisfaction too: “From the start of the season, Rodolfo is always there in the important races, as he was today, holding his own against high-level opponents. We expect something good from him tomorrow too.”

Giro del Trentino Melinda stage 3, Ala-Fierozzo (183 km), will propose the second uphill finish of the race at the end of a day with plenty of climbs: once again, two uphills will decide the final outcome, the Redebus Pass (1st category) and the Fierozzo ascent, in the heart of the Mocheni valley. Once again it will be climbers’ business, and Rodolfo Torres wants to be in the mix.