The mood was perfect with Lennard Kämna and Emanuel Buchmann, and that was not only on the well -deserved day of rest in the seaside resort of Montesilvano on the Italian Adriatic coast. On a relaxed training trip, the German duo of the team Bora -Hansgrohe took it easy on Monday – and was able to proudly review the previously achieved review.

• Podium in Verona remains the goal
• Kämna probably relies on an escape group again
• does the bumpy preparation become an advantage?

Two stage victories in mountain arrangements by Kämna and Jai Hindley, plus the Australian and Buchmann in the top 10 of the overall ranking: The German top team is at the 105th Giro d’Italia full in the target. “If you add the successes to the mountain arrangements, it is 2-0 for Bora,” team boss Ralph Denk to the SID on Monday: “It was a good start. We already have a lot on the have.”

Hindley has only 20 seconds behind the Spanish leader Juan Pedro Lopez (Trek-Segafredo) fifth of the ranking. Buchmann is also a ninth (+ 1:09 minutes) in striking distance to the pink jersey, also because the climbing specialist fought out vigorously at the mountain arrival on Sunday at the log house.

Podium in Verona remains the goal

Bora’s big goal of standing on the podium in Verona on May 29 in Verona remains realistic despite the technical breakdown series for the third Bora captain Wilco Kelderman (24./+ 11:02). “We look from day to day. It doesn’t look so bad,” said Denk: “But the Giro is decided like the past few years in the third week. A few seconds become a few minutes from a few seconds.”

Until then, the former tour fourth Buchmann and Hindley want to get through the simpler second week. “There are a few stages that are only about sitting in the field, eating, eating and not falling,” said sports director Rolf Aldag.

Kämna probably relies on an escape group again

This generally also applies to Kämna. The 25-year-old, who shone on the Etna on the fourth stage, receives significantly more freedom and is likely to go on a stage hunting. “For him, it is a preference to be in an escape group again,” said Aldag.

Bora at the Giro has subordinate everything to the success in the overall classification and the hunt for stage wins in the hilly terrain. The team does without a sprinter. So far, the strong Ineos team around Olympic champion Richard Carapaz has been tone in the mountains, but Bora keeps a striking good. “But we will not fall into euphoria now and make mistakes,” said Denk.

does the bumpy preparation become an advantage?

The bumpy preparation could prove to be lucky in misfortune. Buchmann and Hindley had to deal with diseases in the weeks before the start of the tour of Italy, but could find their top form until the final. “That would be our ideal scenario that some came into the Giro in top form and get out in the back, while our drivers still have and build up reserves,” said Aldag.

After the day of rest, a mostly flat section between Pescara and Jesi will continue on Tuesday, a good opportunity for the sprinter. The 85th Giro ends on May 29 in Verona. It only gets really crisp again from next Saturday when 3000 to 5000 meters of altitude can be mastered every day (you can find all stages in the overview here…).