Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe explain Pellizzari’s off day

The 22-year-old Italian has not yet looked like the rider who dominated the Tour of the Alps in April. On the climb to Corno alle Scale, Pellizzari lost around a minute and a half to Jonas Vingegaard and crossed the line in 22nd place, leaving him ninth overall and almost three minutes down on the Dane in the general classification. 

It was not the response Red Bull had hoped for after his difficult day on the Blockhaus. That earlier setback could still be explained. Pellizzari had tried to follow Vingegaard when the Dane accelerated, an ambitious move that quickly proved too costly and one he would pay for later.

This time was harder to frame that way.

Pellizzari did not blow up after a daring attack. He simply looked flat. For much of the finale he was hanging on at the back of the favourites’ group, unable to respond when the race began to split. By the finish, the damage was not disastrous, but the signs were not reassuring either. According to the team, the Italian was struggling with stomach problems during the stage.

Sports director Christian Pömer described it as a “small setback” after what had otherwise been a strong opening phase of the Giro.

“The first eight days were really great and went according to plan,” Pömer said on the website of the team. “Sunday we had a small setback.”

The timing is far from ideal, but Red Bull remain confident. With roughly 65 percent of the race’s vertical metres still to come, plus a flat 42 kilometre time trial immediately after the rest day, the team believes its main objectives are still within reach.

“We’re confident that it’s still possible to achieve our two goals: an overall podium and a stage win,” Pömer said. “The team spirit is really excellent. That’s why we believe that we can pick up where we left off over the next few days.”

For Pellizzari, the rest day came at the right time. If the stomach issues prove temporary, his Giro remains very much open. He was not expected by his team to be at his absolute peak in the opening week. The plan was to grow into the race, survive the first major tests and reach his best level later in the Giro.