GIRO HEROES
Looking at the riders who lit up the 100th Giro d’Italia
2 FERNANDO GAVIRIA QUICK STEP FLOORS
Ever since he beat Mark Cavendish twice at the Tour de San Luis in January 2015, expectation has swelled about just how good Gaviria really is. Three WorldTour victories last year and a finisseur’s solo win in ParisTours were glimpses. At the Giro we got the full monty as the 22-year-old took four stage wins and the points jersey. His stage win haul was the best on a Grand Tour debut since Alfons De Wolf took five stages at the 1979 Vuelta. But more than the number, it was the manner. His first, on stage 5, came from small group sprint after his team forced a shard off the front in strong winds. Wins two and three were well worked sprints. The fourth in Tortona was the best of all as he extricated himself from a boxing-in, closed a gap and hit a tiny hole by the barriers for the win. Gaviria hoovered up points in the maglia ciclamino jersey by showing a willingness to get in breaks too. Peter Sagan has a rival.