"I'm not going for the general classification" - Despite great form, Lorenzo Fortunato admits to be chasing stage wins at Giro d'Italia

Lorenzo Fortunato has recently finished fifth at the Tour of the Alps and is now on the verge of winning the Vuelta Asturias. With the Giro d'Italia just days from starting the Italian admits his goals do not pass through the overall classification, but instead more realistically aiming for a stage win.

“No, my goal is really a stage win. Only that. I'm not going for the general classification," Fortunato told Wielerflits last afternoon. "I'm not necessarily afraid of the mountain stages, but especially the flat stages. Okay, I have a good team around me, but not to really attack the standings. It is therefore better to win a stage and maybe go for the mountain jersey.”

Fortunato has just came off winning the queen stage at the Spanish race, where Einer Rubio and Iván Sosa finished second and third but comfortably being distances in the Alto del Acebo. The 26-year old is clearly in great form, but he is aware that targeting the GC of a Grand Tour is more than just climbing well.

Hence, as he did in 2021 at the Monte Zoncolan, in 2023 he will aim for individual success on one of the many mountain stages of the race. “I mainly look at the second half of the Giro. The second and third weeks are really for me. The opening week I will mainly stay in the peloton, and then my focus will be on the final week,” he explains.

In the Alps, where he faced with a lot of the competition that he'll have at the Giro, he showed good level. “Am I surprised? Not that. I've worked hard the last few years," he adds.

"Sometimes good results roll out and sometimes that is a bit more difficult. I am very happy with that fifth place and I would like to improve towards the upcoming Giro d'Italia. Then we will see what comes out," Fortunato concluded. He should be EOLO-Kometa's headliner for the Corsa Rosa and best hope for a stage win alongside Vincenzo Albanese.