Two stage wins at the Giro d'Italia never come by chance. But for Jhonatan Narváez this second success has an even deeper taste, almost liberating. Behind today's victory there is not only the strength shown on the climbs or the tactical intelligence in the finale, but a complicated journey, made of pain, doubts and patience.

«For me this Giro so far hasn't been exactly a fairy tale - Narvaez said after crossing the finish line - Yes, I've won twice, but in the second stage we lost three riders. Fortunately, though, the team spirit remained excellent».

Narváez immediately wanted to emphasize the value of the group, a decisive element also in today's victory. «We have a strong team, we proved it again today: we were two up front, two behind, we were positioned very well. We could control the situation both in the leading group and among the chasers».

A tactical clarity that was especially evident at the key moment of the race, when the Ecuadorian chose the right moment to attack. «I knew today I was perhaps the strongest climber, but you must never underestimate your opponents, especially because the finale was very dangerous, the last corner was wet».

Caution didn't prevent him from racing following his instinct. Also because the memory of the difficult months after his injury is still very fresh. «The crash in the Down Under was a terrible moment. Back in Ecuador I was in a very bad place mentally, but then I started working. I was home for a month and gradually I came back».

An extremely difficult period, especially from a psychological point of view. «It wasn't nice to see my teammates racing while I was stuck at home. But now I can say I'm having fun».

Today, though, the smile truly returned. And along with his legs, the experience accumulated over the years alongside great champions also resurfaced. «In my career I've always raced with very strong and very clever riders, like Michał Kwiatkowski for example. I've learned a lot from others, I know when I need to attack and I can say I was also clever».

In the finale, despite the superiority shown on the climb, Narváez never felt truly confident of victory. «There are always dangers. I must also compliment Andreas Leknessund who proved very strong, but I understood I would only win once I crossed the finish line».

The team's work was also decisive, particularly that of Mikkel Bjerg, the true unsung hero of the day, and Narváez didn't hide his gratitude.

«Mikkel Bjerg was excellent, he's a rider always available who you never see on TV. Without him today I wouldn't have won. He pushed hard on the flat section, then we played our cards well».

The Ecuadorian also explained the conversation he had with his teammate during the race: «I told him that, given the headwind as well, I needed him until the end. And it's thanks to him that I won, absolutely».

Continuous instructions were also coming from the team car. «From the radio Baldato was telling me to fight, he was giving me information about the chasers especially. He was telling me to do it, to do it, to do it. But at the same time I also knew I had to push until the end».

The winning breakaway didn't form easily. «It was also hard to get into the breakaway. We kept seeing Net Company riders trying to control all the attacks, putting strong riders in the breakaway».

Then came the decisive moment: «When the opportunity came, both Bjerg and I attacked and only Leknessund followed us».

And once again his final thought was for his teammate who spent himself until the end to bring Narvaez to victory. «Bjerg is exceptional, a rider who maybe we don't see on the podium or on TV but is perfect. Think about it, athletes in general train to win, but he trains to make others win. That's why I'm grateful to him, we're grateful to him in the team».

Finally, a look at the history of Ecuadorian cycling. «I didn't know that my fellow countryman Richard Carapaz also achieved four stage wins at the Giro d'Italia, but we have two different careers. I'm proud of what I've done this week and both I and the team will continue trying to win stages from here to the end of the Giro».