2021 Baby Giro Diaries | Stage 1

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Welcome to the first of our daily shows following this year’s U23 Giro d’Italia, a race affectionately known as the Baby Giro.

After each stage, we’ll be bringing you short round-ups of the day’s action, together with audio diaries from the British-registered Holdsworth-Zappi team, Trinity Racing’s Tom Gloag, and SEG Racing Academy’s Harrison Wood. The latter is of course of supported by the Rayner Foundation.

Stage 1 was a 144 kilometre from Cesenatico to Riccione. In our preview of the race, Joseph Doherty predicted this flat-ish stage would be one for the sprinters. But it was Italian Andrea Cantoni who took a surprise win at the end of a long day in the break on his home roads in Romagna. Cantoni will wear the leader’s pink jersey tomorrow as a result and now holds a 26 second lead in the general classification.

Behind Cantoni, Trinity Racing’s Ben Turner was the best-placed Brit, finishing a fine 6th after jumping away with 30 kilometres to go and closing a three-minute gap on his own. Tom Gloag and Harrison Wood – as well as Ireland’s Ben Healy - all finished in the main bunch behind, while the other Brit in the race, Ollie Rees, was 165th, just over 11 minutes down.

Tomorrow’s stage to Imola should be a more selective affair. It features the Cima Gallisterna, the same climb that Alaphillipe used as his springboard to win the world championships last year. Positioned just 10 kilometres from the finish, it offers opportunities for puncheurs and GC contenders alike to gain time and grab a stage win.

See the full results here.

We have three diary entries for your delectation in this episode.

First up is Trinity Racing’s Tom Gloag, who describes how his stage went (he crashed), bigs up Ben Turner’s incredible bid for the stage win and explains the roles each rider in the team has.

Harrison then provides a thoughtful review of the stage, explaining why his team decided not to chase the break today.

And last but not least we hear from Holdsworth-Zappi manager Callum Ferguson. Callum gives us an insight into the busy life of a team manager at the Baby Giro, and lends us his local knowledge too.

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