"We'll continue like this" - Giulio Ciccone drops the act and launches a full-scale attack on the GC

Giulio Ciccone kept repeating before the 2025 Vuelta a Espana how he would not try for the general classification. Well, we are one week into the race and it's clear that those weren't more than empty words from the Italian who is already 3rd ranked among serious GC contenders, only eight seconds shy of Jonas Vingegaard. On a sixth stage to Pal, the Lidl-Trek rider didn't hide his intentions anymore and launched a frontal attack with Vingegaard in his wheel. Ultimately his effort bore few fruits, but it was a clear message to his rivals.

"It wasn't the plan, but I felt good on the penultimate climb," Ciccone explained to Eurosport. Without hesitation, he put his teammates to work at the front of the peloton, before he launched his own attack in the last five kilometers. "Then we decided to give it a try, to see how things would go."

Ciccone knew that it would be difficult to create a real selection on the relatively rolling slopes, but nevertheless tried to use every bit of gathered knowledge from a pre-Vuelta camp in Andorra.

"I know the climb well because I did a training camp there just before the Vuelta. But I think the climb was too fast. You can save a lot of watts in the slipstream. But it was a good test in the end."

"I was pretty sure Jonas would be good, and Almeida has also shown that he is very strong. It's still hard to say, because it was much easier on the wheel than at the front. I was impressed with Jonas on his wheel; he was going very fast. I think it's going to be tough, but I'm happy with my form and that of the team. We'll continue like this."

The final outcome with a small group crossing the line together wasn't unexpected according to the 30-year-old, but he cannot be underestimated in the battle for podium - if not overall victory.