By Leone Belotti
Stage 20: Susa-Cervinia, 214 km
“But how lucky you were,” Ganassì tells me, “the first Giro you’ve seen in your life, and it’s a memorable Giro.” Ganassì has taken a liking to me.
Today Susa-Cervinia, 214 km. After yesterday's feat, Froome must defend the 40-second advantage he has over the second in the general classification. Berlinguer:
«But Dumoulin must try on the final ramp.»
With 30 km to go, at the GPM of Colle di San Pantaleon, the Spaniard Nieve is in the lead, with a few pursuers behind him, and the pink jersey group is over 7 minutes behind, while Pinot is 20 minutes behind.
Gino: «I have never seen so many people fall into such deep crises»
Berlinguer: «Aru in Sappada, yesterday Yates, today Pinot.»
Ganassì: «not counting your crisis, brother.» Having no brothers, I've always loved stoners or punk-beasts who call me brother (glad they're not really one).
Now he looks at me seriously. In a low voice, without being heard by my surrogacy, in a conspiratorial manner, he reveals: «But for your crisis, cycling is of no use to you.» I look at him: «No?»
He shakes his head. “No, to understand women you have to understand cinema.” I ask, “Cinema?”
"Cinema! Because women make a film, you understand? They already have everything in their heads, the beginning, the development, the key scenes, the ending. You can't do anything about it. Either you stay in the film, and you're out."
Interesting. The cinematic theory of love. We talk about it with Mery, while on the screen Nieve stretches in the descent from San Pantaleon.
“Yes, Gone with the Wind,” says Mery.
And I, thinking I was saying something intelligent: "Tomorrow is another stage, and we'll see."
"You didn't understand anything, as usual," Gino scolds me. "Tomorrow is just a catwalk."
They explain to me that tomorrow's stop in Rome is just a parade.
“But what if someone breaks away and wins?” “It would be his last race.”
At 15km from the finish line Nieve begins the climb to Cervinia, group 9 minutes behind, while the Rosti Bar group discusses the loneliness of Dumoulin, who yesterday had to fight alone,
no team around, no collaboration from his chasing companions.
But the explanation that convinces me the most is given by Mery: «Because he is a good looking guy» she says «while the others are all toads, and so they don't sympathize with him. Normal.»
6 km to go for Nieve, and in the meantime Dumoulin tries once, twice, three times. But Froome marks him tightly without effort. No way. Then Dumolin falls behind, he seems to have exploded,
but once again manages to catch up with the pink jersey group. In the meantime Nieve arrives alone at the finish line in Cervinia. As always, Lopez and Carapaz, after having raced sparingly,
show off at the end, and sprint to compete for the podium, with Dumoulin leading the charge to catch them, but it is Froome who overtakes them at the finish line.
Froome champion, Dumoulin gets the honor of arms. Beautiful.
"But cycling is also cinema!" I exclaim. Ganassì: "Yes, but women have nothing to do with it."
Meanwhile, Gino is moved for Nieve, who as a domestique went on to win the Cervinia stage in style. The commentators are saying that it is also his birthday,
and the first Spanish victory this time around. "But he's Basque!" Berlinguer protests.
"You know what I tell you, guys?" concludes Ganassì, while the images show the Matterhorn covered in snow. Now he will tell his nonsense.
And in fact he says: «In Cervinia there is Nieve!»