Young riders dominated proceedings at the 97th Giro d’Italia. Four of the top ten riders overall were eligible for the white jersey, while the winner, Nairo Quintana, is just 24. Even runner-up Rigoberto Uran is still only 27. One of the most impressive performances, however, came from 23-year-old Italian Fabio Aru who earned a podium place – the best result of his career to date. Aru started the race as a domestique for Michele Scarponi but finished as the next bright young thing.
His overall consistency, to stick with the leading riders and earn his podium spot, was certainly impressive as was the nature of his stage win on the Montecampione on stage 15. Scarponi’s struggles, which eventually led to the veteran Italian abandoning, opened a window of opportunity, which Aru seized with both hands. And now, though Vincenzo Nibali remains the team’s chief GC man, it certainly appears as though Aru will have now leapfrogged Scarponi in the pecking order.
Share