Van Aalto Victorious on Giro’s “white Road” Stage; Deltoro Seizes Lead
Tuscan Terrain Tests Riders in Stage 9
The ninth stage of the Giro d’Italia, a grueling test across the “white roads” of tuscany familiar to Strade Bianche competitors, saw Wout van Aalto (Visma Lease a Bike, Belgium) claim a remarkable comeback victory. Isaac Deltoro (UAE Team Emirates XRG, Mexico) finished second, a result that propelled him into the overall lead, making him the first Mexican rider to wear the coveted Maglia Rosa.
Chaos on the Course: Crashes and Mechanicals Shake Up GC Contenders
the challenging terrain took it’s toll on several general classification (GC) contenders. Primoz Roglic (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe, Slovenia) endured a day of misfortune, suffering both a fall and a flat tire, which resulted in a notable loss of time in the overall standings. thomas Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers, Great Britain) also experienced a puncture, further disrupting the race dynamics.
Did you know?
The “white roads” of Tuscany are unpaved gravel roads that present a unique challenge to cyclists,demanding exceptional bike handling skills and resilience.
Stage 9: A Detailed Look at the Route
Stage 9 commenced in gubbio, initially featuring relatively flat roads and a single category three climb. Though, the race transformed dramatically in the final 70 kilometers. Riders faced five sectors of unpaved roads, totaling 29.7 kilometers. The stage culminated with a challenging ascent up the cobblestone Santa Caterina Street, leading to the finish line in Piazza Campo, mirroring the finale of the Strade Bianche one-day race.
Early Breakaway and Chasing Tactics
A six-rider breakaway formed early in the stage,including Carden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck,Australia),quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck,Belgium),Milan Fretin (Cofidis,Belgium),Doris Devonto (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale,Belgium),Octopus van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty,Netherlands),and Luke Lamperti (Soudal Quick-Step,USA). The peloton, led by Q36.5 Pro Cycling, maintained a controlled pace, seemingly with an eye on positioning Thomas Pidcock, the 2023 Strade Bianche champion, for a potential stage victory.
Pro Tip
Riding on unpaved roads requires lower tire pressure for better grip and comfort. Cyclists often use wider tires to handle the rough terrain more effectively.
Key Moments and Turning Points
As the race progressed, Wout van Aalto, supported by Simon Yates (Visma Lease a Bike), spearheaded the chase. Primoz Roglic received assistance from Gianni Moscon (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe). The unpaved sections proved decisive, with the breakaway splintering and the peloton facing numerous challenges.A crash within the peloton, approximately 51.3 kilometers from the finish, caught out Pidcock and Roglic, disrupting their rhythm.
Following the crash, an attack by Isaac Deltoro created a new leading group of seven riders, including Van Aalto and three from Ineos Grenadiers, including Egan Bernal (Colombia). Roglic then suffered a rear wheel puncture, and Pidcock also experienced a flat tire, compounding their difficulties.
The Final Showdown: Van Aalto vs. Deltoro
With approximately 34 kilometers remaining, Matthias Vacek (Czech Republic, Lidl-Trek) launched an attack from the chasing group, eventually joining the leaders.In the final unpaved sector, Deltoro initiated a decisive move, with only Van Aalto able to respond.The stage victory ultimately came down to a battle between Van Aalto and Deltoro on the steep slopes of Santa Caterina Street.
Van Aalto unleashed a powerful sprint in the final corner, surging ahead to claim the stage win in Piazza Campo.
What this victory means is huge. I don’t need to explain how much effort it took to get back to this level. The few months up until this point have been a very long journey. Today’s race was tough, and Isaac (Deltoro)’s performance was amazing. This is where I realized I could compete at the top level in 2018 Stradevianke and won two years later. I’m really happy to be able to win the stage in this gorgeous place.Wout van Aalto (Visma Lease a Bike, Belgium)
Van Aalto, visibly emotional, celebrated his 50th professional victory and his first Giro stage win with his team and family.
Deltoro Takes the Lead
Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek, Italy) finished third, 58 seconds behind van Aalto, while Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates XRG, Spain) finished seventh, 1 minute and 7 seconds back. Isaac Deltoro’s second-place finish was enough to secure the overall lead, giving him a 1 minute and 13 seconds advantage. He became the first Mexican rider to wear the Maglia Rosa.
To be honest, I can’t believe it, and I can’t put my feelings into words well. What I dreamed of as a child has become a reality.I still can’t believe this is a reality.Isaac deltoro (UAE Team Emirates XRG, Mexico)
Roglic’s Setback
Roglic, along with Pidcock, finished the stage 2 minutes and 22 seconds behind the winner. This resulted in Roglic falling 2 minutes and 25 seconds behind Deltoro in the overall standings and 1 minute and 12 seconds behind Ayuso, placing his GC hopes in jeopardy early in the race.
