Published on : 05/21/2022
In the sweltering heat and against a gruelling pace, Guillaume Martin didn't manage to keep up with the best. In the overall classification, he dropped to 12th place, 9 min 44 sec behind the new pink jersey, Richard Carapaz. He will have to get back into the race tomorrow for the final stage of this second week.
So it was back to the mountainous stages, those days where the heartbeat is more jerky, where the organisms are more than ever put to the test. This Saturday, five climbs were on the programme between Santena and Turin (147 km). And the tempo increased from the beginning of the stage.
Still best Frenchman in the general classification
At Cofidis, the objective remained the same as the one set by the team managers since the beginning of the week: to do everything possible to consolidate Guillaume Martin's place in the top 5 in the overall classification. If the beginning of the stage went smoothly, the rest of the stage was much more difficult. The fault of the winding road, the overwhelming heat and the hellish rhythm at the head of the race.
Even if he managed to stay in contact with the best riders, Guillaume Martin was finally dropped as the pace increased under the impulse of the Bora-Hansgrohe riders on the first climb of the Superga, with more than 60 km to go. Despite his numerous efforts, the gap increased afterwards. He crossed the line in 16th position, 9 min 37 sec behind the winner of the day, Simon Yates. In the overall classification, the rider from Normandy is now 12th, 9 min 44 sec behind Richard Carapaz, the new pink jersey. The leader of the Nordiste team is still the best Frenchman in the overall classification.
Now he will have to focus on recovering well, especially as Sunday is going to be a very tough day. On the eve of the rest day, 177 km will be covered between Rivarolo Canavese and Cogne. The three climbs of the day are concentrated in the second part of the stage: Pila-les-Fleurs (a first in the Giro for 30 years), Verrogne (climbed in 2019) and Cogne (22,4 km at 4,3`%). This promises a great battle in the heart of a breathtaking panorama: the entire route is located in the Gran Paradiso National Park.
THEY SAID
Guillaume Martin : "Bora-Hansgrohe's power move put everyone back in their place very quickly in the stage. Unfortunately, I didn't have the legs to follow. At the top of the first climb of Superga, I was not very far but I found myself alone with 50km to go and that's when I lost a lot of time. It's obviously the disappointment that prevails this evening. It was an epic stage but everyone is in his place. Today, I didn't have the legs to be in front. I'm going to focus on getting some rest and see what I can do next. "
Gorka Gerrikagoitia, Sporting Director: "It was a difficult stage for us. We knew from this morning that it was one of the most difficult days. The stage was short (147km with 3200m of ascent) and very demanding with the heat. It was not a stage that suited Guillaume's qualities. After Bora-Hansgrohe's power move, he couldn't get into the pass with Joao Almeida. He then rode in a small group until the finish. But the race is far from over. We have to recover mentally and physically before tackling the last week of the Giro."