Romain Bardet gained a place in the general classification (5th) on Saturday during the penultimate stage of the Giro, but the DSM rider was aiming first for stage victory.
While he will be celebrating his 31st birthday next November, Romain Bardet has only won seven races in his nine-year professional career, and the last one dates back to February 2018 on the Ardèche Classic. Suffice to say that the French rider would have really liked to win the 20th stage of the Giro on Saturday and he gave himself the means, well helped by his teammates. The DSM rider accelerated on the descent of the Splügen, but was caught and passed on the last pass, Alpe Motta, by Damino Caruso, Egan Bernal and Daniel Martinez (which ends at the same time). On arrival, the former leader of AG2R-La Mondial did not hide his regrets, even if he won a place in the general classification, to the detriment of Hugh Carty, to find himself fifth at 7’48 behind. pink jersey.
Putting our plan in action, as we went all in to try and move @romainbardet up the #Round GC standings.💪🏻📸
🔗 https://t.co/hFLtHnl5NY pic.twitter.com/phr0nbqIGf
— Team DSM (@TeamDSM) May 29, 2021
Will Bardet keep his fifth place?
“I started the stage by telling myself that I had nothing to lose. I was sixth overall and I was not a threat for the pink jersey. I hadn’t attacked much so far in this Giro, so it was good to be in front and push. I have to thank my teammates who had a great race today. I really thought I could win this stage so I’m very disappointed. (…) The team was very motivated this morning and we gave everything, so there is no regrets. I gave my all and won a place. “This Sunday, on a flat 30-kilometer time trial in the Milanese suburbs and then in the streets of the Lombard capital, Romain Bardet will try to keep his fifth place in the general classification, knowing that he has 41 seconds left. behind Aleksandr Vlasov, fourth, and eight seconds ahead of Daniel Martinez, sixth. Even without a stage victory, his very first Giro will still be a success.
