Tao Geoghegan Hart revealed his maturity and leadership ability once again at the Tour of the Alps, confirming for a fourth day that he is on track for overall victory and also a successful Giro d’Italia, perhaps as an Ineos Grenadier protected rider alongside Geraint Thomas but also as a possible overall contender.
He and Ineos Grenadiers again defended the Tour of the Alps green leader’s jersey with apparent ease on stage 4 to Predazzo at the foot of the Dolomites. They carefully let the right breakaway go away on the early climb, allowing them to take the stage honours but kept the gap in check with some superb team riding before then leading home the peloton.
With just the final 144km stage to Brunico to race, Geoghegan Hart leads Hugh Carthy (EF Education-EasyPost) by 22 seconds, with Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious) third overall at 28 seconds. Friday’s fifth stage is over 144.5km from Cavalese to Brunico, with an early mountain to climb and a final hilly lap outside the city in the Pusteria Valley.
After two difficult seasons following his 2020 Giro d’Italia victory, Geoghegan Hart has been on another journey of discovery at the Tour of the Alps this week, with his road again leading to Italy and the Giro d’Italia.
He snatched the 2020 maglia rosa on the final time trial stage to Milan, and so the Italian tifosi and Italian media had little time to get to know him and understand him, especially in the middle of year one of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This week, often via long and fascinating post-race press conferences, Geoghegan Hart is revealing his true character. Italy is realising that it will be as interesting to follow his exploits and his thoughts at the Giro d’Italia as much as those of overall favourites Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič.
La Gazzetta dello Sport dedicated a page to Tadej Pogačar’s win at Flèche Wallonne but also dedicated a page to Geoghegan Hart and his love for Italian racing, his leadership and his character.
He has shown he is a natural leader every day at the Tour of the Alps, praising his teammates for their hard work, encouraging Thymen Arensman after he had a bad day, and even congratulating Gregor Mühlberger of Movistar on his stage victory after a three-year drought and return from meningitis.
At least in Italy, Geoghegan Hart offers a more friendly face than Team Sky and Ineos Grenadiers have ever done.
Geoghegan Hart modestly denied as much but is captivating the hearts of the Italian tifosi…
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