'Even today, they don't want me up there' – Endless attacks and losing time purposefully but Giulio Ciccone still denied a stage win at the Giro d'Italia

Giulio Ciccone’s persistence at the Giro d’Italia stage 9 was on full display as he spent much of the day in breakaways, only to be denied a stage win once again. Despite wearing the prestigious pink jersey earlier in the race, Ciccone found himself frustrated by the tactics of the general classification (GC) teams, who kept his breakaway attempts in check. After deliberately losing time on stage 8 to escape GC restrictions, Ciccone hoped for more freedom on stage 9 but was repeatedly shut down, ultimately finishing 11th after being caught just 1.7 kilometres from the summit of the Corno alle Scale climb. Throughout the stage, Ciccone demonstrated resilience and tactical acumen, attacking multiple times and bridging to the breakaway with 72 kilometres remaining. He pushed the pace on the final climbs, managing to whittle down the lead group to just himself and Einer Rubio before going solo with 7.5 kilometres to go. However, the peloton, led by teams wary of letting the break gain too much time, maintained a steady tempo that prevented Ciccone from building a sufficient gap. The decisive attacks from Jonas Vingegaard and Felix Gall in the GC group ultimately sealed Ciccone’s fate. Ciccone expressed his frustration candidly after the stage, lamenting that GC teams still did not want him in the breakaways despite his efforts. He acknowledged the toll his repeated attacks took on his legs but remained optimistic about future opportunities. With more climbing stages ahead, particularly those featuring early ascents, Ciccone believes the dynamics could shift in his favour, making it harder for rivals to control the race and increasing his chances of a stage victory. Meanwhile, Lidl-Trek’s overall campaign at the Giro had some positives despite the missed win, with Derek Gee-West holding firm in the GC and finishing sixth on the day. Ciccone’s determination and aggressive racing style continue to make him a rider to watch in the coming stages, as he seeks to capitalise on the terrain and race situations that better suit his puncheur qualities. The ongoing battle for the pink jersey remains intense, with Vingegaard’s dominance challenged by a field eager to exploit any opportunity.