Quick Step manager Patrick Lefevere is jumping naked into a bathtub of frites. That’s how thrilled he’s feeling right about the results of stage 5 from Novara to Novi Ligure — 162 kilometers for those meauring at home.
Not in his wildest, Non-Tom Boonen dreams did he think his team would notch two wins in the first five stages of the Giro d’Italia. Craziness, crazier than even Giro Impresario Angelo Zomegnan could have imagined. (Well, Z always has naked latin women in his fantasies.)
Twisted Spoke got the kids off the school. hit the coffee shop and fired up Universal Sports coverage of the race. Timing was perfecto and the first image we saw was three Sky guys on the front chasing, 2.2 kilometers to go. Felt like battle stations, fire fight in Iraq. Instant drama, fast and furious, three breakaway riders out front and the sprinters teams ready to close it down as usual.
The TV announcer called it over, break killed and then with 500 meters it became obvious everybody — media and bike racers — had miscalculated. Yukiya Arashiro (Bbox), Jerome Pineau (Quick Step) and Julien Fouchard (Cofidis) were gonna hold them off, their roll of the dice had worked.
Arashiro made the first and last move before Pineau shot past him for the win with Fouchard taking second. Lifetree stripping naked and holding a bottle of champagne. If somehow you can make it too the Quick Step bus in the next hour, the tequila is free.
It’s a rare opportunity to watch Lefevere dance to Techtronic’s Pump Up The Jam. Wouter Weylandt stole stage three and Pineau had picked the jersey pockets of Farrar, Greipel and Henderson. Party on.
Tyler Farrer shut out, Andre Greipel stuck a zero, depressed and angry, Greg Henderson’s SKy falling in. So far this Giro goes to the bold, those willing to take the risks. Chalk up another win for the guys without the big star tag.
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