"Italian veteran Diego Ulissi triumphantly achieves long-held ambition of donning pink jersey on Italian terrain during the gravel stage of Giro d'Italia"
In the thick of the Giro d'Italia's grueling stage eight, the Apennines played host to a pair of dramatic battles. Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla) emerged victorious on this arduous leg, but the real showstopper was Diego Ulissi (XDS-Astana) capturing the coveted Maglia Rosa. This victory, in the twilight of his career, marked a lifelong childhood dream for the Italian veteran.
Ulissi, a cycling legend with eight Giro stage wins under his belt, crossed the line in third place on the 197km route from Giulianova to Castelraimondo. Despite trailing behind by 4:01 pre-stage, Ulissi's incredible tenacity allowed him to seize the race lead for the first time in his distinguished career.
Initially, it seemed that Lorenzo Fortunato, the Maglia Azzura wearer and Ulissi's teammate, was set to lead the race. However, Fortunato faltered, slipping back to seventh place on the day, as Ulissi solidified his position. With the peloton poised to tackle the unpredictable strade bianche on stage nine, Ulissi will proudly sport the iconic pink jersey in his home region of Tuscany.
Overjoyed with his achievement, Ulissi shared his emotions with the media: "It’s an incredible feeling. When they told me about it, it gave me immense joy. Seeing the pink jersey before putting it on reminded me of when I was a kid watching the Giro d'Italia." He continued, "This dream I've had since I started cycling at six years old is finally coming true, even if just for a day."
A professional since 2010, Ulissi boasts an impressive 49 professional wins throughout his career. Now riding with XDS-Astana, he's undoubtedly one of the most recognized figures in modern Italian cycling.
"I was already content with my career," Ulissi admitted. "But now, I get to wear the pink jersey in Tuscany—an indescribable emotion. Wearing the pink jersey means giving it your all. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll do everything I can."
Meanwhile, Luke Plapp, the defending winner, staged an impressive attack, managing to distance himself from the lead group in the final 45km. Though Ulissi chased behind Plapp alongside Wilco Kelderman (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), he couldn't catch the Jayco-AlUla rider. The gap between Ulissi and pink jersey-holder Primoz Roglic was in flux until the final 20km, but in the end, Ulissi's efforts were enough to secure a 12-second lead over Fortunato heading into the next stage, with Roglic trailing 17 seconds behind.
XDS-Astana team director Dario Cataldo applauded the team's accomplishment, stating: "It’s super important for the team because the guys were riding well together. They were the best in GC in the breakaway, so why not try for that as well? Luke Plapp was super strong, and in the end, was the strongest one in the breakaway, so we are happy with what we achieved."
With Ulissi at the helm, even for just a single day, XDS-Astana will undoubtedly enjoy a significant boost in morale and visibility, especially as they fight for WorldTour survival.
[1][2][3]
[1] Ulissi's victory in the Giro d'Italia, culminating in the Maglia Rosa, was a testament to his enduring passion and tenacity in sports.
[2] Despite riding XDS-Astana at this stage of his career, Ulissi remains one of the most celebrated figures in Italian sports, particularly in cycling.
