'Close the book and go for the next one' - From stage wins and the pink jersey to breakaways and crashes, inside XDS Astana's up and down Giro d'Italia

XDS Astana approached the Giro d’Italia with a clear objective: to secure as many stage wins as possible rather than targeting the general classification. This strategy has yielded positive results, with the team already claiming two stage victories and a brief spell in the coveted maglia rosa. However, their campaign faced a significant setback on stage 11 when Davide Ballerini crashed early in the day, forcing him to abandon the race due to injuries sustained to his hand and knee. Despite this blow, the team remained committed to their breakaway-focused tactics, demonstrating resilience amid the unpredictable nature of the race. Stage 11 proved challenging for XDS Astana beyond Ballerini’s crash. Christian Scaroni, who had deliberately conserved energy in the previous time trial to focus on breakaways, was part of a strong group of three riders from the team in the decisive move. Unfortunately, Scaroni himself crashed with 41km remaining but managed to remount and finish sixth, ending his hopes of a stage victory. Diego Ulissi salvaged the team’s efforts by finishing third, just behind the winning breakaway duo. Team director Dario Cataldo acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining their aggressive approach in a race where multiple teams vie for breakaway success and praised his riders’ determination despite the setbacks. Cataldo, a former professional rider with experience at the Giro, expressed pride in the team’s performances so far, highlighting early successes such as Thomas Silva’s stage two win and Ballerini’s triumph on stage six. He emphasised the distinct challenges of targeting stage wins rather than the general classification, noting that while GC contenders must avoid bad days, a team focused on breakaways can afford to “close the book” on a disappointing stage and refocus on the next opportunity. This mindset, he believes, helps maintain morale and keeps the team motivated through the race’s ups and downs. Looking ahead, Scaroni remains optimistic about XDS Astana’s chances of further stage victories as the Giro progresses towards its conclusion in Rome. He underlined the strength and depth of the squad, insisting that their current performance level is no surprise given their capabilities. With many stages still to come, the team plans to maintain their aggressive, opportunistic approach, aiming to add to their tally of wins and leave a significant mark on this year’s Corsa Rosa.