In first, Israel Start-Up Nation wins stage at Giro d’Italia

Alex Dowsett solos to victory in the Giro d’Italia cycling tournament’s eighth stage Saturday to give his Israel Start-Up Nation team a first win.

In Vieste, Dowsett produced a powerful finish to cross the line alone more than a minute ahead of Italian Salvatore Puccio of Ineos and Briton Matthew Holmes of WorldTeam Lotto.

Dowsett shook off his five breakaway companions with 20 kilometers to go, with the former world Hour Record holder finishing as in a time trial. The eighth stage was a 200-kilometer route between Giovinazzo and Vieste

The 32-year-old rider from Essex claims his second Giro stage win, seven years after his first.

“I can’t say how much I needed a win like this in such a difficult year,” says Dowsett.

“Since Israel Start-Up Nation stepped up to the WorldTour, we’ve been fighting for this victory.”

He adds: “I don’t have a contract yet for next year and with a baby coming in January, I really needed such a result so badly, I cannot believe it.”

It is the first time the Israel Start-Up Nation, founded five years ago, has won a stage in a Grand Tour race.

— with AFP

Team Israel Start-Up Nation rider England’s Alex Dowsett, wearing a face mask, celebrates with a bottle of champagne on the podium after winning the 8th stage of the Giro d’Italia 2020 cycling race, a 200-kilometer route between Giovinazzo and Vieste, on October 10, 2020. (Luca Bettini/AFP)