Alberto Bettiol and XDS Astana embrace freedom in Giro d'Italia

Alberto Bettiol and XDS Astana celebrated their newfound freedom to experiment following a successful first week at the Giro d'Italia, as they secured two stage wins and a stint in the pink jersey. The team aimed to build on their momentum during the second week of the race by aggressively pursuing more breakaways and sprints. As Bettiol stated on a rest day, their strong performance in the opening stages allowed them to race without the pressures that often accompany General Classification (GC) contenders.

During the first nine days from Bulgaria to Tuscany, XDS Astana faced stiff competition, particularly from UAE Team Emirates-XRG and other teams such as Soudal-QuickStep and Visma-Lease a Bike. Despite not matching UAE's three stage wins, Astana claimed significant victories: stage 2, which saw Thomas Silva become the first Uruguayan rider to wear the pink jersey, and stage 6, which was won by Italian veteran Davide Ballerini amid a chaotic finish in Naples. These achievements not only alleviated pressure on the team but also allowed them to race freely, a rarity for a squad not primarily designed for sprint finishes.

As the Giro advanced into its second week, Bettiol expressed confidence in their strategic approach. He explained that having nothing to lose gave them the liberty to attempt bold tactics, something that usually breeds further success. This potential for risk-taking is exemplified by a few missed opportunities, such as fellow racer Giulio Ciccone, who, although previously wearing the maglia rosa, was unable to secure a stage win. On the contrary, freedom and an open mind led to Ballerini's victory in Naples.

XDS Astana continued to seize every opportunity as an experiment, with Bettiol participating in a break with Diego Ulissi and previously attempting to break away with Filippo Ganna during stage 8. He remained optimistic about stage 10, a time trial where he anticipated stiff competition from GC riders, who generally recover better than the sprinters. Additionally, Bettiol noted his enthusiasm for the forthcoming week, which he believed suited him well due to their enhanced racing freedom. Originally, the team's goal was to secure just one stage win, but with two victories already, their aspirations had grown.