Andrea Guardini wins the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia 2012
Andrea Guardini continued his tremendous run of form in the 2012 season and secured an impressive victory at the first Grand Tour race of the season, the Giro d’Italia 2012.
The Italian rode brilliantly during the 139 kilometre stage 18 of the race and opened his Giro winning account.
The Italian rode exceptionally well during the event and restricted the UCI Road World Champion, Mark Cavendish at the second position.
Roberto Ferrari of Team Androni-Giocattoli, Robert Hunter of Team Garmin-Barracuda and Lucas Sebastian Haedo of Team Saxo Bank occupied the third, the fourth and the fifth positions in the respective order.
The 22-year-old was overwhelmed after the stage victory and briefed that Giro has been a great learning experience for him.
He cited, “I’m still very young and I’ve got to develop a lot as a rider”.
“I’ve really suffered on the climbs in this Giro d’Italia but 198 riders started the Giro and now there’s only 168 left. That proves something".
“During the first week of the Giro d’Italia I didn’t believe in myself enough. I’d been struggling in the sprints and things hadn’t been going my way”.
“I knew this sprint was the last chance I had. I knew it suited me because it was so flat. I knew my chance was today or that I’d have to wait until next year”.
Guardini opened his 2012 winning account with a superb performance during the Tour of Langkawi 2012.
He succeeded at the second, the third, the fourth, the eighth, the ninth and the tenth positions in the respective order.
Andrea started his professional career with Team Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli in 2011 and is continuing his second consecutive season with the side.
He holds as many as 11 Tour de Langkawi stages to his credit after his appearance at the 2011 and the 2012 editions of the event.
Rodriguez maintained his overall lead at the general classifications with a lead of 30 seconds over Ryder Hesjedal of Team Garmin-Barracuda.
Ivan Basso of Team Liquigas-Cannondale, Michele Scarponi of Team Lampre-ISD and Rigoberto Uran Uran of Team Sky Procycling occupied the third, the fourth and the fifth positions in the respective order.
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