Week two of the race started with a stage that took the bunch from Pescara to the small town in the province of Ancona.
Jesi greeted the peloton for the first time in 37 years, at the end of a 196km stage punctuated by several small unclassified climbs in the last 90 kilometers. On the last of these, the peloton ramped up the pace, a move that by the time the ascent was crested, left only some 30-odd riders in the main group. Soon after, on the sinuous descent to the line, several riders tried to go away, knowing the terrain could work into their favour.
Davide Ballerini countered one of these attacks with four kilometers to go, keeping things together on the fast finish to Jesi, where Mauro Schmid got involved for the Wolfpack, taking tenth behind Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert). For the 22-year-old – a stage winner earlier this season at the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali – it was the third top 10 finish at the Corsa Rosa, after the ones in Budapest and Napoli.
On Wednesday, the race will continue with a pan-flat stage to Reggio-Emilia, at the end of which the sprinters will get their first opportunity in almost a week to go for glory.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
