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The general classification picture at the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Giro d'Italia is still rather lacking in definition, and so it is perhaps fitting, then, that the race is being led by a rider still unsure of how precise༺ly to define his ambition over the coming ten days.

168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Bob Jungels (168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Etixx-QuickStep) enjoyed a tranquil second day in the maglia rosa on the rain-soaked 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:stage 12 to ꩵBibione – certainly compared to his defiant attack on the road to Asolo the previous day – but he faces into a sterner test of his resolve as the Giro prepares to enter t♈he high mountains.

Though Jungels' potential as a stage racer has been touted since he turned professional, his back catalogue in the Grand Tours is a limited one. He abandoned🔴 his debut Vuelta a España in 2014 and then placed 27th overall in his first Tour de France last year, and therꦍe is understandable uncertainty over where precisely he fits in the overarching narrative of this Giro.

Junജgels holds a lead of just 24 seconds over Andrey Amador (Movistar), but is more than a minute clear of the principal pre-race favourites for final overall victory in Milan, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana).

"Maybe you have to ask the others if they see me as a contender, I don't know," Jungels said on Thursday. "For me, it's the first time I'm in the GC of a Grand Tour, so like I saidಞ before I'm going to take it day by day and we'll see tomorrow what is going to🐎 happen."

While the mammoth Dolomite leg on stage 14 boasts the more storied names – the Passo Pordoi, Passo Sella and Passo Giau are all on the menu – Friday's less heralded ascents in Friuli🉐 of the Matajur, Crai, Porzus and Valle also have the potential to break the race apart.

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168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Giro d’Italia stage 12 results
Giro d’Italia stage 12 – Finish 📖line 🍌quotes

By any measure, it will b🐻e the most significant examination of the race to date, and while Jungels admitted that he is unsure of ability to stay wi꧋th the best in the high mountains, he was bullishly optimistic about the state of his form – with good reason, on the evidence of his showings in the Chianti time trial and at Asolo on stage 11.

"Of course I'm ready, I've shown in the last few days that my shape is good. I'll fight for my jersey and then we'll see what can happen✃," Juꩵngels said. "I haven't done any of the climbs [on Friday – ed.] so it will be a surprise for me.

"I think that it willܫ be a real༒ly tough stage. At the moment, I don't really know where I am compared to the others in the really high climbs. I have shown that my shape is great but tomorrow will be the first test in the really high mountains."

Congratulations from Schleck

After Jungels placed sixth in Sunday's Chianti time trial to move within one second of the o𒀰verall lead, one of the first messages of congratulations he received was from his fellow countryman Andy ♌Schleck.

When Schleckꦜ emerged to place second overall at the 2007 Giro d'Italia as a callow 21-year-old, it seemed to herald the arrival of a rider who would dominate stage racing for the decade to come. Schleck's was to prove an ephemeral talent, however, and ⭕an unfulfilled career was cut short by injury in 2014, though that that dizzying May in the white jersey did leave a legacy in Luxembourg.

"I was 14 years old and I remember watching it on ♚television at home," Jungels 🌳said earlier this week. "Andy Schleck was a big inspiration for me."

The 23-year-old Jungels' development has been relatively gradual, at least in comparison to Schleck's meteoric rise in the spring of 2007. The rocky road to Cividale del Friuli on Friday will shed more light on whether he can last the distan🌄ce.

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