Astana’s Spaniard, Mikel Landa Meana 24, took an amazing solo win on Bondone uphill ahead of Meintjes and Pellizotti. The Aussie defended his leadership with no fear.
Giro del Trentino’s history adds an Australian to its winners’ list, Cadel Evans. They have almost the same age – the Giro del Trentino is 38 years old, one more than Cadel. But saying that the race was dominated by veterans would be a misstatement , even though the podium’s average age – runner-up Domenico Pozzovivo is 32, third-placed Przemyslaw Niemiec is 34.
The final stage was taken by Spaniard Mikel Landa Meana, who is just 24, and probably with a bright future infront of him. Even younger South-African Louis Meintjes (22) came in second, while experienced Franco Pellizotti rounded out the stage podium.
There are both generations in the final outcome: experience got the upside, but new talents are coming to the fore. The Italian riders – with youngster Fabio Aru and veteran Michele Scarponi overall seventh and eighth respectively – did not fare great this time. There was only Edoardo Zardini’s solo shot in Brentonico.
Astana’s Landa soloed to the finish, after showing better legs in this Giro del Trentino than teammates Scarponi and Aru. “It was actually Scarponi who told me to attack as no one was really making the pace in the group: that gave me a chance to succeed, but at the Giro I will settle back in a domestique role.” Landa’s endeavor flourished in the final 2 km. Nibali and Scarponi’s team might have found a really important setup man, but the Spaniard could turn out to be much more than a lucky domestique.
The lead of Evans, fifth to the finishing line, was never under threat. With his experience, Cadel kept his rivals under control in spite of having only one domestique on his side – Steve Morabito – in the hot phase. The Bondone finale was intense, and made even more scenic by a still snowy landscape. “I knew I had a good advantage – Evans explained – and that gave me confidence. Pozzovivo was the most dangerous of my rivals, but I managed to keep everything in check.”
BMC Racing, the dominating team at this Giro del Trentino (3 wins – the team time trial, a stage in Roncone and the GC with Evans) now aims at pink, and looks to repeat with Cadel Evans the great double Trentino-Giro d’Italia achieved by Vincenzo Nibali 12 months ago: “I will face more opponents at the Giro d’Italia, and everyone will have a better condition at the time. But I have more time to improve myself, and become even more competitive.” BMC also won the Fairplay Prize by the Italian Panathlon for hosting in their team car a young Afghan refugee.
Vason (Italy), April 25th, 2014
