'I'm living my best love story' – Giulio Pellizzari dedicates victory to his girlfriend's late father after Tour of the Alps stage 2

Giulio Pellizzari claimed a significant victory on stage two of the Tour of the Alps, showcasing his sprinting prowess on a challenging mountainous route. Riding for Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, the young Italian surged ahead of notable competitors such as Thymen Arensman and Egan Bernal to secure his first win of the season and only the second of his professional career. The stage, which covered a demanding course from Telfs in Austria to Martell in Italy, featured multiple climbs that tested the riders’ endurance and tactical acumen. Following his triumph, Pellizzari dedicated the win to Stefano Casagranda, the late father of his girlfriend and a former professional cyclist who had achieved one of his early victories on the same race in 1998. The emotional tribute highlighted the personal significance of the victory, with Pellizzari expressing gratitude for the influence Casagranda had on his partner and their relationship. This heartfelt moment added a poignant dimension to the sporting achievement, underlining the human stories often intertwined with professional cycling. Despite the success, Pellizzari admitted he was not at his physical peak, citing fatigue but emphasising the importance of the team’s collective effort and altitude training at Mount Teide in Tenerife. He acknowledged the need for continued progress as the race unfolds, reflecting a pragmatic approach to his current form and the challenges ahead. His win was the result of a tactical battle in the final kilometres, where a select group of riders, including his teammate Lorenzo Finn and Mattia Gaffuri, contested a downhill-then-uphill sprint finish. The stage’s difficulty was underscored by the time losses suffered by several general classification hopefuls, including Tom Pidcock, who finished significantly behind following a recent training crash. Pellizzari now leads the overall standings by a narrow margin, setting the scene for an intense competition as the Tour of the Alps progresses. The next stage promises further tests with a 174.5km route through northern Italy, keeping fans and riders alike on edge as the race continues to unfold.