The Groupama-FDJ team had high expectations from the penultimate sprint of Giro d’Italia this Thursday towards Padua. Unfortunately, after 178 kilometers on stage 18, Laurence Pithie couldn’t make his way through the bunch sprint to compete for the first positions. At the finish, the New Zealander settled for thirteenth place. He’ll get a last opportunity in Rome on Sunday, after two mountain stages.
The start proved quite lively, for about fifteen kilometers, but as expected, a small breakaway led the way on stage 18 of the Giro this Thursday. At the head of the race, Filippo Fiorelli, Andrea Pietrobon, Mikkel Honoré and Mirco Maestri rarely enjoyed an advantage of more than two minutes, with the sprinters’ teams unwilling to take any risks in what was probably their penultimate opportunity in this edition. As soon as they entered the last 80 kilometres, the gap was even reduced to under a minute, which also led to a counterattack of Edoardo Affini within the pack. The Italian joined the day’s fugitives, but the peloton remained in total control to finally catch everyone ten kilometres from the finish. The bunch sprint set up under increasing tension, and the Groupama-FDJ cycling team tried to surround Laurence Pithie as well as possible.
“There’s a little something missing”, Frédéric Guesdon
Well positioned with five kilometres to go, the New Zealander got support from his teammates up to the last 1,500 metres. Unfortunately, he was then caught in-between two trains. “The guys lost themselves a bit at first, then they were caught by the speed of the Tudor and Lidl-Trek who have more experienced teams in this area,” argued Frédéric Guesdon. Around the twentieth position after the final curve with 450 metres to go, the 21-year-old Kiwi was unable to fight for the very first positions, crossing the line in 13th place. “We are disappointed with the result because we came to this Giro with the ambition of achieving results in the sprint stages, and until now, we have not got what we wanted,” explained Frédéric. “It’s a shame because there’s a little something missing to do better. It is also true that there is a high level in the sprint and that we have a young team. It’s a bit disappointing but I’m happy that the guys continue to be committed and still believe in it.”
Laurence Pithie is now expected in Rome on Sunday, but he and his teammates will have to complete two mountain stages first.
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