Sliding doors: Alberto Dainese picks the right path

Sliding doors: Alberto Dainese picks the right path

One, two, three tumble - but one survives to triumph on Vuelta a España stage 19

Photos: Unipublic/Sprint Cycling Agency Words: Chris Marshall-Bell

Every single cycling race is littered with dozens of sliding doors moments. It’s a sport of quick-fire decisions, minute advantages and the smallest of spaces in which to navigate. A brake too late, a bike throw too early, or just simple hesitation can be the difference between winning and losing.

Alberto Dainese of DSM-Firmenich must have thought he was to be steered down the wrong avenue with just over a kilometre left of the Vuelta a España’s stage 19. Having barely threatened in the race despite the low-quality sprint field, Dainese was desperate to put things right, instructing his teammates to execute a leadout that would slingshot him to victory.

At the 2km to go banner, Dainese was supported by four DSM riders in front of him; at 1.3km remaining, there were still three companions taking him into the bunch sprint fight, the quartet front and centre at the head of the peloton. But then one of those sliding door moments occurred. Tobias Bayer, one of Kaden Groves’ leadout riders for Alpecin-Deceuninck, looked right, looked left, and crashed.

It was a foolish and regrettable move, and the consequence was predictable: behind him Chris Hamilton fell, then Sean Flynn, and then Max Poole. Riders not from Alpecin, but from DSM. The domino also took Groves out of the battle, but he managed to avoid spilling to the floor. Cycling is a game of decisiveness and quick adaptation. Sighting his trio of leadout riders one by one tumbling to the floor, Dainese had a millisecond to react. He chose correctly, darting to the right and avoiding the pile-up.

Read more: One more twist to the tale? Stage 20 is Sepp Kuss’ final hurdle at the Vuelta a España

But even with Groves, the stage favourite, out of contention, Italian Dainese still had no teammates left to power him to the line. It was time to go wheel-surfing, a high risk, high reward game of jumping across the road, dashing out of wheels and predicting whose slipstream is best. It’s genius when it works, but it’s rare that it does. Dainese, though, had no choice; the crash had made it a free-for-all.

Vuelta a España stage 19

He had to decide which one of the doors he was going to open. Should he follow Filippo’s Ganna’s Ineos Grenadiers train, hop onto the back of Marijn van den Berg’s EF Education-EasyPost freight, or cruise in the wheel of Movistar’s Iván Cortina? Decisions, decisions, decisions. Split second, if that, to decide. He opted for Cortina’s, powered out to the left and then charged towards the line. Ganna was leading, a remarkable Grand Tour sprint victory beckoning, but then Dainese appeared, a superbly-timed launch and an inch-perfect bike throw. He had won.

One thousand and three hundred metres back down the road, Hamilton and Flynn, bloodied from the crash and still off their bikes, hugged, celebrated and screamed as Dainese radioed through that he had pulled it off despite the circumstances. Some would say he was fortunate that Groves was unable to contest for the victory, while UAE-Team Emirates’ Juan Sebastián Molano was also missing at the sharp end. But Dainese, already a two-time stage winner in the Giro d’Italia, had slid through the right door to secure his maiden Vuelta a España victory.


Photos: Unipublic/Sprint Cycling Agency Words: Chris Marshall-Bell

READ MORE

Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes 2025 Preview - Can Demi Vollering finally get her win?

Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes 2025 Preview - Can Demi Vollering finally get her win?

The last round of Ardennes week is the toughest challenge yet – who will come out on top?

Leggi di più
My ongoing three-year battle with cancer, by Lidl-Trek manager Luca Guercilena

My ongoing three-year battle with cancer, by Lidl-Trek manager Luca Guercilena

Lidl-Trek manager Luca Guercilena was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the autumn of 2021 aged 48, an aggressive but treatable type of chronic cancer. For...

Leggi di più
‘I listened to my DS for a change’ - Perseverance has finally paid off for Puck Pieterse

‘I listened to my DS for a change’ - Perseverance has finally paid off for Puck Pieterse

Fenix-Deceuninck rider claims her first Classics win at La Flèche Wallonne

Leggi di più
Has order been restored? Tadej Pogačar is the King of Huy

Has order been restored? Tadej Pogačar is the King of Huy

No one could come close to the world champion when he attacked on the final climb of La Flèche Wallonne- what does this mean for...

Leggi di più
La Flèche Wallonne preview 2025 - Will Mur de Huy serve up another vintage Ardennes showdown?

La Flèche Wallonne preview 2025 - Will Mur de Huy serve up another vintage Ardennes showdown?

Pogačar, Evenepoel and Skjelmose all set to tackle the second Ardennes Classic

Leggi di più
La Flèche Wallonne Femmes 2025 preview - Can the favourites regain control over the Ardennes?

La Flèche Wallonne Femmes 2025 preview - Can the favourites regain control over the Ardennes?

After an unpredictable Amstel Gold Race last weekend, the likes of Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma will be keen to make amends in this mid-week...

Leggi di più

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE