Emulating Andy Hampsten after the American seized pink on the Passo di Gavia stage in the 1988 Giro d’Italia, Joe Dombrowski did the same on yesterday’s stage of the GiroBio, or Baby Giro, and is now just today’s stage away from final victory.
The 21 year old USA National team rider is poised to become the first American ever to win the race since it was first held in 1970. If he does, he will join a list of past victors including Francesco Moser, Marco Pantani, Gilberto Simoni and Danilo di Luca. All went on to top pro careers, and each won the senior Giro d’Italia.
Dombrowski had previously taken pink when he won last Monday on Monte Terminillo, but lost the jersey the next day when he punctured inside the final ten kilometres and had to wait for mechanical assistance. He started yesterday’s stage three minutes and three seconds back, but believed that he still had a chance.
Team-mate Larry Warbasse did a hard pull and then he attacked with twelve kilometres to. He went flat out from there to the 2621 metre summit, and reached it 43 seconds clear of Fabio Aru (Team Palazzago) and a full two minutes 55 ahead of Matteo di Serafino (Vega Pref. Montappone).
Prevous race leader Ilnur Zakarin (Russia) cracked and finished over ten minutes back.
“This Giro has been a race of highs and lows for me,” said Dombrowski afterwards. “I took the pink jersey with a strong climb and descent on Terminillo, and then proceeded to lose it the next day with an untimely puncture on the Strada Bianchi.
“I came to this race with a clear goal; to win the overall. I knew going into today that it was going to take a big effort to make up the three minutes I had lost on the Strada Bianchi. I attacked with twelve kilometres to go on the Gavia, established my gap, and maintained it to the top. It was good enough for the stage win, and I took back the pink jersey. It was an amazing feeling, and made the suffering on what I would consider the hardest day of racing I have ever done well worth it."
The stunning ride puts him 25 seconds ahead of Aru in the general classification. The third-placed rider, Pierre Paolo Penasa (Zalf Euromobil Fior), is one minute and ten seconds back, with Matteo Di Serafino (Vega Pref. Montappone) a further minute behind.
Dombrowski is looking good for the overall win, but didn’t want to take anything for granted yesterday. “There’s still tomorrow…it’s not won yet…”
Today’s final stage is made up of ten laps of a 12.3 kilometre circuit in Asiago. Dombrowski’s USA National team will work hard to protect his lead; if it succeeds, he’ll take a historic win.
He previously highlighted his ability with fourth place on the Mount Baldy stage of the Tour of California plus twelfth overall. On the basis of that plus his current performances, it appears that the USA has a major stage race contender for the future.
GiroBio (Baby Giro), Italy
Stage 8, Rovereto to Passo di Gavia:
1, Joseph Dombrowski (Usa) 168.2 km in 5h24'42" media 31,081 km/h
2, Fabio Aru (Team Palazzago) at 43"
3, Matteo di Serafino (Vega Pref. Montappone) at 2'55"
4, Matteo Ciavatta (Monturano Civitanova Cascinare)
5, Pierre Paolo Penasa (Zalf Euromobil Fior) at 3'20"
6, Edoardo Zardini (Team Colpack) at 3'24"
7, Donato De Ieso (Vejus Tmf Idnamic) at 3'39"
8, Davide Formolo (Petroli Firenze Cycling Team) at 5'22"
9, Lorenzo Di Remigio (Aran D'Angelo & Antenucci) at 5'40"
10, Nazar Jumabekov (Kazakhstan) at 5'47"
General classification:
1, Joseph Dombrowski (Usa) 1238.7 kilometres in 31h54'01" media 38,824 km/h
2, Fabio Aru (Team Palazzago) at 25"
3, Pierre Paolo Penasa (Zalf Euromobil Fior) at 1'10"
4, Matteo Di Serafino (Vega Pref. Montappone) at 2'10"
5, Matteo Ciavatta (Monturano Civitanova Cascinare) at 3'49"
6, Edoardo Zardini (Team Colpack) at 5'12"
7, Donato De Ieso (Vejus Tmf Idnamic) at 5'23"
8, Davide Formolo (Petroli Firenze Cycling Team) at 7'03"
9, Ilnur Zakarin (Russia) at 7'07"
10, Lorenzo Di Remigio (Aran D'Angelo & Antenucci) at 8'54"