Andreas Leknessund showed a brave fight during today’s 13th stage of the Giro d’Italia, finishing just behind the Maglia Rosa Group after what was an eventful day.
In the hours before the start, the race organizers announced that today’s stage would be shortened due to extreme weather conditions, with the route starting at 75 kilometres to go. After the arrival at the new start, riders did a quick warm-up to prepare for what was set to be a short, but brutal day on the bike.
The race kicked off at kilometre zero with attacks flying and the peloton getting really small quickly. With the rest of the team saving some energy for the upcoming challenging days, Andreas Leknessund was present in the first rows of the Maglia Rosa Group while taking on the first climb. The group rode at a steady pace and kept the breakaway close.
On the second and final climb, a few attacks went from the group of favourites, while the breakaway fought for the win. Andreas kept a cool head, stayed in the bunch and only had to let it go on the final kick to the line. On the run-in he fought hard and only lost a couple of seconds on some riders, with his fighting spirit meaning he held on to his nice 4th position in GC; a brave effort of the Norwegian, after a day full of unforeseen events. The rest of the team rode steady to the finish ahead of another intense stage tomorrow.
