EF Education–NIPPO (United States) - Press Release: “The Giro is the most beautiful race in the most beautiful country in the world. This year I would love to win a stage.”

Yet it was clearly not enough for Alberto Bettiol to simply be a stage winner. This is his home country after all. He was victorious in the most unforgettable way possible.

“It’s really special to win a stage like this. It feels like the Tour of Flanders years ago,” said Bettiol.

It was a promising start for the Italian pro who joined the breakaway group that quickly set an unforgiving pace. “We had to first make the breakaway. Then for Bettiol in the break, it was all about him trying to drop everybody,” said Sport Director Matti Breschel.