"The battle will be fully on at Saturday" - Giulio Ciccone awaits big battle for polka dot jersey

Giulio Ciccone enjoyed a 'rest day' on a stage that took riders to Bourg-en-Bresse. The polka dot jersey wearer is trying to save up as much energy as possible before decisive Saturday's stage which offer up to 31 points into the KOM classification.

"The legs were a bit tired this morning. But, for the rest, I suppose it was a good day. Already tomorrow, it will be a bit more nervous than today. We need to pay attention, but the important day will be Saturday. There will be full fight then. Gall, Vingegaard are the men I might have to watch… but I don’t need to control them, I'd rather to go collect as many KOM points as possible."

Read also

"He's coming back for the Tour" - José de Cauwer believes Tadej Pogacar will not race Giro d'Italia until he takes another Tour de France win

“His performance also fueled another fire, that of suspicion" - L'Équipe question Jonas Vingegaard's time-trial dominance