One day after Laurenz Rex’ performance in the breakaway, it was the turn of his compatriot Laurens Huys to show himself in the front of the race on the twelfth stage of the Tour of Italy, held in the Piemont region this Thursday.
The 24-year-old climber, contesting his first Grand Tour, joined the day’s breakaway by following a group of around 30 riders in the hilly first race hour.
This large breakaway group split before tackling the main climb of the day, the Colle Braida (11km at 6%), with the summit located 30 kilometers from the finish.
Laurens Huys arrived in Rivoli in the first chasing group and eventually finished the stage in 11th place, after 184 kilometers of racing and just over four hours of efforts.
"Joining the breakaway was very difficult. I was at maximal effort, I never looked back. At one point, a group of 25 formed but the collaboration wasn't good. Five other riders joined us. As I came to the team car to get my rain jacket, a group of five broke away, they were gone for good. I tried to make the connection with Davide Formolo, but the leading group was already out of reach. Finally, the chasing groups got together and I finished 11th. I'm happy to have shown myself in my first Grand Tour, but I'm convinced that a better result was possible. It's a good sign to be present in this difficult edition of the Giro."
