The Italian Alessandro Covi won stage 20 of the Giro d’Italia, in which the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz lost the Maglia Rosa, now in the hands of the Australian Jai Hindley, from Bora Hansgrohe, who attacked on the last mountain pass and managed to take an advantage of 1:30 minutes to the leader of the Team Ineos Grenadiers at the finish line.
A port, the Marmolada, saved the surprise for last. At the top of it, the Italian Alessandro Covi achieved the victory of his life in the twentieth stage that started in Belluno and ended at the top of Marmolada (Passo Fedaia) after 168 km.
Glory to Covi, the best breakaway of the day, heroic in his resolution, conquering the so-called Cima Coppi of this edition, the Marmolada, alone and reaching the finish line alone to savor his feat. He entered euphoric after four hours, 46 minutes and 33 seconds with the Slovenian Domen Novak (Bahrain) at 32 seconds, Ciccone at 37 and the Spanish Antonio Pedrero at one minute and 36 seconds.
Behind them, Hindley had attacked 3.4 km from the top, releasing Carapaz and Landa from their wheel, and leaving in search of the finish. He passed the line two minutes and 30 seconds behind the winner and one minute and 28 seconds ahead of Carapaz. He was already the leader and virtual winner of the Giro. Landa suffered a lot all day, but kept third place.
The most anticipated stage began with a large escape of 15 runners. As always, Van der Poel was there, as well as Kamna, Ciccone, Pedrero, Vendrame, Covi and Formolo.
Covi carried the burden of saving the Giro del UAE Emirates, unprecedented in his victories locker. The 23-year-old cyclist had the honor of adding to the list of winners the conquest of such a distinguished mountain. After a long descent of more than 30 kilometers, the Italian appeared at the foot of the Marmolada.
With an advantage of more than two minutes, Covi La Marmolada began to climb through Passo Fedaia, also known as the “Cemetery of the Champions”, or “The Corridor of Fear”, where its 12.6 km at 7.8 with sections of up to 18% incline have put an end to many illusions or have elevated cycling heroes.
As Covi approached the finish line, in the group of favourites, Ineos took the lead. Just by tensing up a little bit, Carapaz, Hindley and Landa got together. 3.5 kilometers from the finish, Hindley moved, who joined teammate Kamna from the front, who towed him a few meters. He yielded Carapaz, very fair strength, without reaction. The same Landa, who let his rivals do and pending to reach his pace, to keep third place on the podium.
The Ecuadorian cyclist went through serious trouble, suffering with very hard sections to the top. The Australian cyclist was flying, at another level in the decisive section. The Giro was slipping away for the 2019 winner, and it was getting closer for Hindley, second in 2020.
Finally, the Marmolada was in a certain way a graveyard of champions, since it buried Carapaz’s options in the general classification, now one minute and 25 seconds behind Hindley, in the absence of the Verona time trial stage, where the pink jersey will be worn by the australian
This Sunday will take place the twenty-first and last stage of the Giro d’Italia, which will be held in the individual time trial modality with start and finish in Verona.