Israel – Premier Tech grabbed the team’s third podium place in this year’s Giro d’Italia as Sebastian Berwick finished third on stage 12 of the Italian Grand Tour.
After Wednesday’s sprint stage, it was clear that today was a day for a breakaway to make it all the way given the undulating terrain.
The IPT riders were extremely eager to get in the mix and the team was present with multiple riders in all the moves at the beginning. Ultimately, a group of 30 riders managed to get away including Berwick, Stevie Williams and Marco Frigo.
Halfway through the stage, the breakaway split up with five riders getting a gap. Berwick was quick to join the group and they quickly built up a gap on the chasers.
At the top of the final climb, only two others riders were able to follow the fast pace set by IPT’s 23-year-old Australian. The first chase group, with Frigo, was over three minutes down and it was clear that the leading trio would fight for the victory. In the end, Berwick finished third in the sprint after an impressive day out by him and the whole team.
“That last climb was my last opportunity I guess but in the end, they were strong enough to stay with me”, Berwick explained after the line. “I didn’t have much in the sprint obviously. 58kg vs 75kg, it’s a bit hard to win but I kept fighting, it’s a Giro stage and I was in the hunt for the win so you never know what happens. Steven Bradbury and all that.”
Frigo crossed the line in fifth place after a late attack from the chase group, continuing the impressive streak of results by IPT’s youngsters in the race.
“I tried to get away on the last climb just to take on the descent less stressful. At the bottom, I waited for the group and then I went one more time on the last kilometer to finish in fifth”, Frigo said. “I’m really happy with this result in my first Giro and also with how my legs felt today. Let’s see what we can do in the next stages. I think there is more to come!”
Tomorrow, the Giro d’Italia continues with a big mountain stage to Crans-Montana and Berwick reassures that the team is ready to fight again. “We will go again tomorrow! Two seconds and a third place now. We are fighting for that win and we hope it comes soon.”
