This morning Erica Magnaldi was welcomed in Saluzzo with a true triumph of people. Many signs, many fans for her and for the Piedmontese riders in the group who today face the final stage of the Giro, which is by no means a foregone conclusion. «I'm already incredibly emotional just to be here on the roads of my home. I was hoping there would be some people and it's really beautiful to see how many people came out into the streets, it's a great celebration and a worthy finale for this Giro,» Erica told us just before the start while many people around her were shouting her name at the top of their voices.

Erica Magnaldi's real day, however, was supposed to be yesterday, the crowning of a dream, awaited for years, to finally reach the Sestriere, her mountain. From the eve of the start, the Team UAE ADQ rider from Piedmont had not hidden her great emotion at being able to tackle the formidable eighth stage, the climbs of her heart that she knows practically by heart. A great desire that, however, was shattered by the will of something much more gigantic: nature. «I admit it, yesterday I was a bit disappointed, it was a letdown not being able to reach the Sestriere, but against mother nature you really can't do anything, I believe the organization made the most correct decision. Before the Giro I was in a training camp right at the Sestriere a few weeks ago, I climbed it many times and I dreamed of that finish with all my heart. It was sad not being able to finish the stage, but anyway we climbed the Colle delle Finestre where there was a great spectacle,» Erica recounted, and despite the disappointment she was welcomed by her family and her fans. «I received the communication about 7 km from the summit, they explained to me that a double avalanche had fallen in the last kilometer and the road was dangerous. My first thought went to my family because I knew that everyone was at the top following the race and waiting for me, so I immediately went to ask the motorcycles and the race organization vehicles for information. Fortunately they assured me that no one had been involved and I heaved a real sigh of relief.»

The 145 km from Saluzzo to Saluzzo are anything but simple, Erica knows this well as she races on the roads of her home. Three categorized climbs and a rather eventful finale, will they be enough to overturn the Giro? «Today's route is one I know very well, it's a stage that is by no means straightforward. There will certainly be a fight to get into the breakaway and it won't be easy to get out of the group, there are many climbs and critical points and the games for the general classification are still wide open. It won't be a walk in the park at all and with a route like this everything could change,» Erica concludes, and seeing what Team UAE ADQ has accustomed us to so far, we could really see some beautiful things happen.