On Thursday in the Langhe region, Filippo Ganna's "I came, I saw, I conquered" is resounding, as much as it is laconic, not demoralizing for his opponents even when the gaps between the rider from Verbania and the others are somewhere between significant and abyssal.

The man himself, still wearing the tricolor jersey for another year, explains: "Things went according to plan, if anyone imagined that part of the course wasn't suited to my abilities, fortunately they were wrong. I'm sorry for Affini, I wish him a speedy recovery. For me, winning in Piedmont and in these parts that I frequent often (at Sobrero's place, ed.) is a source of pride, just as it is to think that other young riders from the area can see themselves in what I do," Ganna explains when reminded of his early victories at the Bracciale del Cronomen, as a junior.

While beside him Mattia Cattaneo holds his little daughter in his arms, Luca Giaimi beams, also because the words of yet another Italian champion directed at him are marked by genuine compliment: "I know him because he's an excellent track cyclist, today he proved his worth and it had a special flavor competing against opponents ten years younger".

Indeed Giaimi, a confident young man who gives flowers to his girlfriend, though when Ganna uses the word aged, he can only resemble wine, if one doesn't use the wine metaphor from these parts: "I gladly accept the comparison with a Barolo and anyway yes, during the off-season, I must say that around here it's particularly nice to find yourself facing a nice glass and some Langhe gastronomic delicacies".

In Piazza Cabutto in Barolo, the finish line structures are being dismantled and attention turns to Cuneo: "I won't be there on Saturday, no second thoughts, even though today I did a good test with the Tour de France in mind. The data? For now I'll tell you about positive feelings, for the rest we'll see in a few hours with Dario Cioni".