Rough night, this first night at Tor des Géants®: cold, snow at the passes, illustrious withdrawals and changes in the rankings have marked these first 20 hours of the race.
On the lead, in Cogne, is French Olivier Romain, inside the life base at 4.40 a.m. and out at 5.15. Behind him, two of the main candidates for the final victory: Galen Reynolds, from Canada, and Oliviero Bosatelli, king in 2016, who left Cogne, respectively, at 5.35 and 5.42. A radically changed ranking if we look at last night’s positions, when Franco Collé was leading ahead Peter Kienzl. The Aosta Valley athlete has faced eye problems and stopped in Cogne for almost three hours, leaving as ninth. Worse situation for Kienzl, who stopped his TOR in Eaux Rousses.
Silvia Trigueros Garrote, exploiting last year’s experience – which led her to the victory –, is speeding up, running in eleventh position overall. Almost one hour behind is Jocelyne Pauly and, detached, Sonia Furtado.
Illustrious withdrawals, as we said. Besides Peter Kienzl, also Stefano Ruzza and Lisa Borzani left the race. At the moment, about 80 runners left, leaving 870 still on the route.