In contrast to the relatively calm stage the day before, the seventh stage of the Tour of Italy (2.UWT) between Diamante and Potenza (Basilicate) this Friday was particularly challenging.
Breakaway attempts succeeded each other for more than two hours and it wasn’t before the longest climb of this 105th edition, the Monte Sirino (32km at 4%) that a group of six riders got the green lights of an exhausted peloton.
Those six riders battled for the stage victory after more than five hours of racing. The climbers of the Belgian team, Rein Taaramäe, Jan Hirt and local rider Domenico Pozzovivo, reached the finish line with the favorites.
In the general classification, the Estonian rider remains in third position. Domenico Pozzovivo and Jan Hirt are 20th and 25th respectively.
« It was a special day for me, in my native region, and a particularly difficult stage because of the very intense start. The rude and long battle for the breakaway on undulating roads stretched the peloton out for many kilometers. That's why I had to stay concentrated, but I felt a certain emotion on these roads I know so well since I covered them so many times as a young kid. » « My form is good after this first week. I think that my goal to finish in the top ten of the general classification remains realistic. I'll have to limit the damage on days I feel less good. Winning a stage? We'll see, my priority remains the GC but why not try in a stage such as on Sunday towards the top of Blockhaus. »
