Vlasov not giving up on Giro d’Italia podium despite downward trend

SEGA DI ALA ITALY MAY 26 Aleksander Vlasov of Russia and Team Astana Premier Tech White Best Young Rider Jersey during the 104th Giro dItalia 2021 Stage 17 a 193km stage from Canazei to Sega di Ala 1246m UCIworldtour girodiitalia Giro on May 26 2021 in Sega di Ala Italy Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana-Premier Tech) losing contact on Stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

A week is a long time at the Giro d’Italia. As the race entered its third weekend, Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana-Premier Tech) was just 45 seconds off Egan Bernal’s maglia rosa in second place overall. Six days later, the Russian is in fourth place and some 6:03 down, no longer a threat for pink and almost three minutes off the podium.

In the scramble for seconds through the Giro’s opening two weeks, Vlasov was a model of consistency, catching the eye with strong performances at Sestola, Campo Felice and Montalcino. In the days since Astana forced the pace on stage 14 as a statement of intent ahead of the Zoncolan, however, his race has lost its previous effervescence.

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Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan is Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.