Giro Success for Alpecin-Fenix
We look back over a successful three-week Grand Tour for Alpecin-Fenix where they wore a special kit for a special occasion. Three stage wins and time spent in the coveted maglia rosa race leaders’ jersey. From Budapest to Verona - here is our photo essay featuring highlights of the Giro d’Italia 2022.
Team presentation
Alpecin-Fenix reveal a change to their iconic blue kit with their unique Giro d’Italia 2022 design. The olive-green jersey would be worn in celebration of their partnership with Italian company Fenix.
Stage One
This year’s Giro started in Hungary, with a stage from Budapest – Visegrád. It was a full-gas sprint to the line against Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux’s Biniam Girmay for Mathieu van Der Poel. In winning the stage he immediately swapped his new olive-green jersey for pink as he claimed the first Maglia Rosa of Giro’22! In fact, there were several costume changes for Mathieu on the podium that day as he also claimed the Maglia Ciclamino and Maglia Azzurra!
Stage three
The third stage was a long flat affair, lasting 201km and taking the riders from Kaposvár to Balatonfüred. Mathieu did not contest the bunch gallop with the pure sprinters. But he came in safely just behind the winner in the lead group, so was awarded the same time. This meant he retained the Magla Rosa for another day. Wearing the pink jersey meant he also got to wear some of the pink-themed accessories we had prepared for him to match his pink bike.
Stage four
Following the rest day and transition from Hungary to Italy, stage 4 took place from Avola to Mount Etna. The high mountain top finish meant this was a stage for the pure climbers. After a brave fight Mathieu had to sadly vacate the Maglia Rosa. He did however retain the Maglia Ciclamino, which he wore with some of the matching accessories we prepared in advance, along with matching bike and helmet.
Stefano Oldani was Alpecin-Fenix’s top performer on the stage, and he moved up to 26th on the general classification.
Stage twelve
The hilly 204km stage from Parma to Genova was won spectacularly by Stefano Oldani as he raced away from fellow Italian Lorenzo Rota.
Stage eighteen
Stage 18 was a flat 156km from Borgo Valsugana to Treviso. Dries De Bondt won the stage with a well-timed sprint from within a small group. He was one of four riders to escape in a breakaway on a day that the sprinters were expected to dominate. However, the escapees survived the chase by 14 seconds and Dries got to stand upon the top step of the Giro podium for the first time in his long successful career. Throughout the stage Dries wore our super light and breathable VeranoFlex skinsuit which helped him regulate his body temperature on a hot day.
Grazie Alpecin-Fenix!
What a phenomenal team performance for Alpecin-Fenix at the 2022 Giro d’Italia. Several days wearing the Maglia Rosa and Maglia Ciclamino, and three stage wins. Ciao bella!