Quack Attack

Inspired by fresh threads and bold bikes thanks to the unique collaboration with Rapha, Palace and Cannondale, EF Pro Cycling has been flying in the first week of the 2020 Giro d’Italia. Ruben Guerreiro took the team’s second stage win and now leads the King of the Mountain classification after teammate Jonathan Caicedo won stage 3 and delivered the team’s first stint in the KOM jersey.

On a wet and miserable stage full of hard climbs, Ruben Gurreiro let the rain roll like water off a duck’s back as he powered ahead on the final climb and timed his kick to perfection. In the second mountain stage of the Giro – which featured four categorized climbs with almost 4,500 meters/14,850 feet of elevation over 208km/125 miles from San Salavo to the final climb up to Rocccaraso – EF Pro Cycling has once again shown their strength in the mountains. Or as team boss Jonathan Vaughters said, “We’re just getting our ducks in a row,” in reference to the Rapha and Palace designed collab kits for the race.

Attacking early into the race, Guerreiro was part of an original eight-man breakaway that was established ahead of Passo Lanciano with 100km of rolling and hilly terrain still to be ridden. Slimming the group down on the penultimate climb, Guerreiro followed a rival’s attack 2.0km/1.2 miles from the finish that would make the battle for the win a mano-e-mano affair. With 200 meters to the line, Guerreiro launched his winning sprint to the finish to bring home the victory and with it his first Grand Tour stage win. He now takes the lead in the KOM classification that comes with a new jersey to don at the 2020 Gird d’Italia.