This Sunday, Laurens Huys became the seventh different rider of team Intermarché-Circus-Wanty to finish in the top ten of a stage in this Giro d'Italia.
After Arne Marit, Niccolò Bonifazio, Sven Erik Bystrøm, Lorenzo Rota, Laurenz Rex and Simone Petilli, the 24 year old Belgian rider obtained eighth place after a new attempt in the breakaway.
In the breakaway of sixteen riders, the climber could rely on the support of Bonifazio, who accompanied him during the major part of this fifteenth stage, which contained three climbs of ten kilometer: the Valico di Valcava (12 km at 8%), Selvino (11 km at 5.5%) and Roncola Alta (10 km at 6.7%).
The Italian sprinter attacked in the approach to Roncola Alta (10 km at 6.7%), where the leading group exploded and the competitors of Huys had to take the responsibility in the chase.
At the end of an effort of more than five hourd, Huys reached Bergamo in eighth position, obtaining his first top ten in a Grand Tour and also his first in a World Tour race. His teammate Bonifazio preceded the group of favorites with twelfth place.
« I felt the right moment to join the breakaway in the beginning of the stage. After five minutes full gaz the breakaway was composed. We had a plan to win the stage, with Niccolò and myself in the front. with him on the attack with 40 kilometer to go I was in a perfect position. In the end it didn't work out, but I'm proud of my first top ten in a Grand Tour. I'm discovering myself at this level and I'm happy to be competitive after 47 days of racing this season and two very challenging weeks here. It was good to represent our team in the front of the race again and in the sun and with many tifosi along the roads this time. I gave a lot the past two weeks and I'm really looking forward to the rest day to recover. I'm curious to see how my body will react during the hard final week. Thanks to the team I'm making a constant progression and I hope to continue like this after the Giro. »
