For its first big round for over 4 years and the Giro d'Italia 2021, Elia Viviani did not go far from a prestigious stage victory to which he has not tasted since 2019, and his victory over the Tour de France. Ideally launched by his team Lotto this Saturday in the streets of Saragosse, the 36 -year -old sprinter seemed to be off to win this 8th stage. But that was without counting on a Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuncink) Always so formidable and who knew how to stand up following a big wave of the Italian to sneak on his left and are ahead of a last kidney on the line. A cruel outcome for Vivianiwhich also lost its beautiful 2nd place after the arrival, the jury having logically judged its change of line in the last 100 meters far too dangerous after having almost stuck Philipsen in the barriers.
“When you sprint against a runner like Philipsen, it's never over … disappointment will be hard to pass”
“It's painful“He confessed right after the line at the microphone ofEurosport (and before learning its downgrading), frustrated to have gone so close after such happiness after several complicated years which have gradually seen it retrograde in the hierarchy of the world sprint. “”We see the line in front of you and we feel the arrival get closer, but when we sprint against a runner like Philipsen, it is never finished as long as we have not crossed the line. The disappointment will be hard to pass. Especially since there are many opportunities to sprint on this Vuelta. It was a missed opportunity, a real one. The team did an incredible job. They placed me in an ideal position, and I could not have dreamed better“He explained before returning to his choices of the final.
“Then there was a little confusion, it was a bit complicated to know where to start my sprint. Obviously, when we see a sprint again like this, we see a thousand ways to do otherwise and perhaps winning, but at the moment, I had this feeling, and I opted for this path. I heard Philipsen shout from the barriers, and I didn't want to get it back. This is not how I win races. It's a shame, we passed nearby. We hope to be able to do some additional sprints in the last week. You have to stay positive and focus on the excellent work of the team“, the conclusion Elia Viviani.
