Il Giro: Ballerini shows that the Wolfpack never gives up

Davide Ballerini and Pieter Serry carried the flag for Soudal Quick-Step Saturday afternoon at the Corsa Rosa, proving that our team still has something to say at the season’s first Grand Tour despite continuing in just three riders. Heavy rain and cold temperatures made it another brutal day of racing between Sierre and Cassano Mogagno, as the race left behind Switzerland to return to Italy, and after an intense first hour of racing, a sizable breakaway formed with both our guys in there.
Despite the presence of the mighty Simplonpass in the first part, the group went on to establish a stunning 15-minute lead – which by the time they finished, ballooned to 21 minutes – one of the biggest gaps in years between a successful breakaway and a Grand Tour bunch. Davide was less interested in that and more in the fight for victory, and with a whisker over 50 kilometers he made his move following a series of skirmishes between the escapees.
Together with three other men, Soudal Quick-Step’s 28-year-old Italian left every ounce of energy out there as they slowly but surely built a 50-second gap. Even after remaining in three, they still had a fair chance of going all the way, pressing hard as they approached Cassano Mogagno, but the undulating terrain in the last ten kilometers combined with a concerted effort from behind saw their margin being reduced at a rather rapid pace.
The trio entered the final kilometer with ten seconds in hand and the hope they would make it, but the slightly uphill finish and the fatigue took their toll, and they were caught an agonizingly 300 meters from the line, just as they were preparing to open the sprint. As the others charged past them, Ballerini tried to react, but despite his best efforts it was heartbreak for the man from Cantù, who finished in fifth place, as Nico Denz (Bora-hansgrohe) took the victory.
“The last couple of days weren’t easy for us after all that has happened, but we wanted to show that we are still in the race. It wasn’t an easy day, but I was motivated, especially as I’m not that far from my hometown. I wanted to be in the breakaway and did my best to get there. It was nice to have Pieter with me and I want to thank him for his help. I gave everything out there and believed in our chances, but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. There are seven stages left and we will continue to try”, a tired but upbeat Davide said at the finish.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
Race details
1 |
Nico Denz BORA - hansgrohe |
4:37:30 |
2 |
Derek Gee Israel - Premier Tech |
0:00 |
3 |
Alberto Bettiol EF Education-EasyPost |
0:00 |
4 |
Laurenz Rex Intermarché - Circus - Wanty |
0:01 |
5 |
Davide Ballerini
Soudal - Quick Step |
0:01 |
6 |
Toms Skujiņš Trek - Segafredo |
0:04 |
7 |
Marius Mayrhofer Team DSM |
0:10 |
8 |
Stefano Oldani Alpecin-Deceuninck |
0:20 |
9 |
Andrea Pasqualon Bahrain - Victorious |
0:50 |
10 |
Mirco Maestri EOLO-Kometa |
0:50 |
17 |
Pieter Serry
Soudal - Quick Step |
1:49 |
35 |
Ilan Van Wilder
Soudal - Quick Step |
21:11 |
1 |
Bruno Armirail Groupama - FDJ |
56:17:01 |
2 |
Geraint Thomas INEOS Grenadiers |
1:41 |
3 |
Primož Roglič Jumbo-Visma |
1:43 |
4 |
João Almeida UAE Team Emirates |
2:03 |
5 |
Andreas Leknessund Team DSM |
2:23 |
6 |
Damiano Caruso Bahrain - Victorious |
3:09 |
7 |
Lennard Kämna BORA - hansgrohe |
3:33 |
8 |
Eddie Dunbar Team Jayco AlUla |
4:13 |
9 |
Thymen Arensman INEOS Grenadiers |
4:26 |
10 |
Laurens De Plus INEOS Grenadiers |
4:49 |
15 |
Ilan Van Wilder
Soudal - Quick Step |
8:05 |
67 |
Pieter Serry
Soudal - Quick Step |
1:20:47 |
90 |
Davide Ballerini
Soudal - Quick Step |
1:55:24 |
1 |
Jonathan Milan Bahrain - Victorious |
164 pt |
2 |
Derek Gee Israel - Premier Tech |
112 pt |
3 |
Pascal Ackermann UAE Team Emirates |
88 pt |
4 |
Nico Denz BORA - hansgrohe |
75 pt |
5 |
Toms Skujiņš Trek - Segafredo |
71 pt |
6 |
Michael Matthews Team Jayco AlUla |
68 pt |
7 |
Magnus Cort Nielsen EF Education-EasyPost |
56 pt |
8 |
Marius Mayrhofer Team DSM |
53 pt |
9 |
Mark Cavendish Astana Qazaqstan Team |
51 pt |
10 |
Davide Bais EOLO-Kometa |
44 pt |
19 |
Davide Ballerini
Soudal - Quick Step |
28 pt |
60 |
Ilan Van Wilder
Soudal - Quick Step |
5 pt |
1 |
Davide Bais EOLO-Kometa |
144 pt |
2 |
Thibaut Pinot Groupama - FDJ |
114 pt |
3 |
Einer Augusto Rubio Reyes Movistar Team |
68 pt |
4 |
Toms Skujiņš Trek - Segafredo |
42 pt |
5 |
Karel Vacek Team Corratec - Selle Italia |
36 pt |
6 |
Derek Gee Israel - Premier Tech |
31 pt |
7 |
Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier Egerzeigzaarhka Trek - Segafredo |
30 pt |
8 |
Jefferson Alexander Cepeda Ortiz EF Education-EasyPost |
25 pt |
9 |
Ben Healy EF Education-EasyPost |
24 pt |
10 |
Aurélien Paret-Peintre AG2R Citroën Team |
22 pt |
1 |
João Almeida UAE Team Emirates |
56:19:04 |
2 |
Andreas Leknessund Team DSM |
0:20 |
3 |
Thymen Arensman INEOS Grenadiers |
2:23 |
4 |
Santiago Buitrago Sánchez Bahrain - Victorious |
4:50 |
5 |
Ilan Van Wilder
Soudal - Quick Step |
6:02 |
6 |
Einer Augusto Rubio Reyes Movistar Team |
9:01 |
7 |
Jefferson Alexander Cepeda Ortiz EF Education-EasyPost |
11:56 |
8 |
Valentin Paret-Peintre AG2R Citroën Team |
22:47 |
9 |
Laurens Huys Intermarché - Circus - Wanty |
23:46 |
10 |
Filippo Zana Team Jayco AlUla |
27:10 |
1 | Bahrain - Victorious | 168:23:58 |
2 | Israel - Premier Tech | 7:03 |
3 | Jumbo-Visma | 29:00 |
4 | EF Education-EasyPost | 29:16 |
5 | BORA - hansgrohe | 31:34 |
6 | INEOS Grenadiers | 33:02 |
7 | UAE Team Emirates | 41:08 |
8 | AG2R Citroën Team | 41:53 |
9 | Astana Qazaqstan Team | 51:56 |
10 | EOLO-Kometa | 58:43 |