By Jean-François Quénet in Fiorano Modenese
The only Frenchman in the 22 man breakaway was cyclo-cross national champion Francis Mourey, who was third at the World Championships last year but missed the race for the rainbow jersey this year.
"I rode the Tour de France two years ago, but I have another full season of cyclo-cross ahead of me, and the Giro actually fits better in my program, he said on the finishing line of Fiorano Modenese. After the French road championships, I will only focus on the next season of cyclo-cross."
"I'm very happy to ride the Giro again," Mourey continued. "Today I made the right move. In the finale, I was on the wheel of Arvesen who ended up being the winner, but I wasn't strong enough to follow him. I think at the end, I'm where I should be (14th). It's a pity to be in a breakaway and not win. When you come to a Grand Tour, it's for winning something. At least after Fabien Patanchon's break yesterday, we show that while there may not be many riders left from Française des Jeux, we keep fighting."
