This time Filippo "Ago" Agostinacchio makes it and less than ten kilometers from the Aosta finish line, he breaks away in "finisseur" style. A home-style time trial for him who lives near the Aosta stroll street and trains on the roads of the first stage of the 61st International Giro della Valle d'Aosta. So, after winning a stage of the Giro Next Gen with a finish in Acqui Terme, he tries again with the same tactic, anticipating the sprint to avoid getting trapped by those faster than him.

At 22 years old, Ago says he is "still learning". In his category, he considers himself "new", he who won silver in the 2024 Cyclocross World Championship in Pontevedra. In Aosta, he sends a direct message to U23 Team Manager Marino Amadori. "I would like to compete in the Tour de L'Avenir and the remaining spots are few, perhaps just one".

From Aosta to Aosta. The first stage of the 61st International Giro della Valle d'Aosta starts in front of the city's University, inaugurated a year ago by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella. The stage on paper is short and in reality proves to be nervous, 85 km of ups and downs with the first GPM (third category) on the Col d'Introd. The first white and light blue jersey of the category goes to the Dutchman Kars Hayma (Metec) who went on a breakaway to achieve his goal. More than the climb, the descent makes the selection in the first part of the race. The group breaks up towards Pollein and Aymavilles (the castle dominates the center of the Valley), near the confluence of the Dora Baltea and the Grand Eyvia stream. Vineyards around. Breathtaking landscape. The day's breakaway with protagonists Filippo Agostinacchio (Biesse), 2024 Italian Champion Edoardo Zamperini (Arkea), Magnus Carstensen (EF Education), Enea Sambinello (UAE), Sebastian Putz (Red Bull Bora), Maxence Place (Wanty), Aaron Dockx (Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team), Ryan Gal (Pic Nic), Cole Kessler (Lidl Trek), Simone Zanini (XDS Astana), Adam Rafferty (Hagens Berman), Michele Bicelli (Biesse), Niels Driesen (Lotto Development) and Jules Drouet (Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme).

Tomorrow (Thursday, July 17th) the Giro moves to France for the mountain time trial from Passy to Passy Plaine Joux, 10.5 challenging kilometers with an average gradient of 8% and sections at 14%.

A curiosity, in the group is the French rider Alexy Faure-Prost (Wanty Nippo Re Uz) who at the end of April was hit by a car and just before the Flèche Wallonne, resulting in multiple fractures and subsequent surgery. In 2023, Faure-Prost finished second in the overall classification at Valle d'Aosta (won by Darren Rafferty, third place for Isaac Del Toro). After racing throughout 2024 in World Tour events, at 21 years old he is back at Valle d'Aosta "to regain race rhythm and aim, if possible, for the podium", he says after the team presentation. Today's cycling allows U23 riders to go up and down like in an elevator.

FINISH ORDER

1 AGOSTINACCHIO Filippo Biesse-Carrera Premac 5 01:55:31

2 ZAMPERINI Edoardo ARKEA-B&B HOTELS Continentale 1 + 12

3 CARSTENSEN Magnus EF Education–Aevolo + 12

4 SAMBINELLO Enea UAE Team Emirates Gen Z + 15

5 PUTZ Sebastian Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe Rookies + 15

6 PLACE Maxence Wanty-NIPPO-ReUz + 15

7 DOCKX Aaron Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team + 18

8 GAL Ryan Development Team Picnic PostNL + 18

9 KESSLER Cole Lidl-Trek Future Racing + 18

10 ZANINI Simone XDS Astana Development Team + 18

11 RAFFERTY Adam Hagens Berman Jayco + 18

12 BICELLI Michele Biesse-Carrera Premac + 18

13 DRIESEN Niels Lotto Development Team + 18

14 DROUET Jules Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme + 18

15 PERETZ Matar Israel Premier Tech Academy + 02:00

16 VLOT Mees Development Team Picnic PostNL + 02:00

17 HANNES Victor Wanty-NIPPO-ReUz + 02:44

18 MARTINI Marco Team Technipes #InEmiliaRomagna + 02:44

19 WOODLIFFE Euan Israel Premier Tech Academy + 02:44

20 MICHELS Jente Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team + 02:44

21 GILLET Baptiste ARKEA-B&B HOTELS Continentale + 02:44

22 REMIJN Senna Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team + 02:44

23 RUBIROLA Marc Caja Rural-Alea + 02:44

24 FERRARO Santiago VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè + 02:44

25 BOUQUET Axel ARKEA-B&B HOTELS Continentale + 02:44