Transition stage in Sardegna sees Ridolfo in top 25

Stage three of the Giro di Sardegna was the easiest stage so far and one where the sprinters could focus on a result with Team Novo Nordisk’s Italian Filippo Ridolfo opening up the legs in the final in Tortola to place 24th.

A fast stage from Cagliari benefited from a tailwind throughout and once again the battle to get the breakaway started early, but never really bore fruit with two riders escaping but not for long. 

The peloton was not going to pass up one of only two clear opportunities for the sprinters and duly made the catch inside the final 15 kilometers with Ridolfo’s compatriot Umberto Poli trying to lead his teammate into the finale at the front.

“I’m feeling better each day and today was an improvement, but there’s still some way to go,” said Ridolfo. “It was quite a fast stage with a similar situation to yesterday regarding the breakaway, so we could hold ourselves in the bunch quite well and wait for the sprint.”

“Umberto did a really good job for me in the last 10km and worked hard to keep me at the front, I lost my place in the final when I should have gone left instead of right. The flow was moving left and so I lost my momentum there and couldn’t recover my place in time. 

“Overall a much better feeling than yesterday though and we’ll have to dig in on tomorrow’s stage, another hard one in the mountains before we get another chance on Sunday.”