After a four-year drought, Italian cycling fans can once again celebrate as Diego Ulissi is in the Maglia Rosa. The 35-year-old veteran Italian, who previously won eight stages in the Giro, took over the leader's jersey from Primoz Roglic after finishing third in stage eight.
"People on the side of the road were shouting that I had to go full gas. That's when I realized how close I was and that I had a shot at the pink jersey. So in the finale, I could only think about giving it everything, even though I was exhausted.
I could barely hear the radio, hardly anything. I think it was also the team's decision not to tell me about the time gaps. And it was the right decision. Even though I'm an experienced rider, I might've gotten distracted or mentally blocked if I had been thinking too much about the jersey. Then knew I was there, that I was fighting for pink, so they just told me to go all out.
Wearing the Maglia Rosa is every kid's dream when they first get into cycling - even more so if you're Italian. To finally do it at the tail end of my career is incredibly rewarding."
-Diego Ulissi
Australian Luke Plapp delivered his debut Grand Tour stage victory in grand fashion with a mammoth
46km solo ride to Giro d'ltalia glory.
"It's crazy. I can't believe it to be honest. I feel like it's been a long time coming, just targeting the Aussie summer and not being to make a result happen in Europe. So many times I've been close at the Giro last year... It's so special to make it happen today.
From the Olympics last year to a wrist surgery in February and crashing in the first time trial of the Giro, this win makes it worth the efforts to come back after all the setbacks. A result like this is amazing."
-Lucas Plapp
Sam Watson (INEOS Grenadiers) claimed the fourth stage of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque. Stage 4 was a testing 172.7km stage around Cassel included two climbs taken six times each - the Rue de Tambour and steeper Porte d'Aire, which averages 8.6% grades. Race leader Axel Zingle (Visma Lease a Bike) crashed out of the race in the final lap, with Swift taking the leader's jersey with three seconds over Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ). Carols Canal (Movistar) is third at eight seconds.
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