By Stefan Tabeling, dpa
Emanuel Buchmann has already missed his first target in the spectacular Hungarian opener of the 105th Giro d'Italia. After all the failures, bad luck and mishaps, the German tour hopeful wanted to get through without a crash.
However, the podium contender landed on the tarmac in the individual time trial, meaning that he is travelling to Sicily with a handicap of over a minute behind. "My front wheel slipped off. I was quickly back on the bike, it should still fit," said Buchmann, describing his mishap.
For the time being, however, the 29-year-old has fallen behind. After the third stage, which the British former world champion Mark Cavendish won on Sunday after 201 kilometres from Kaposvar to Balatonfüred in a sprint ahead of the Frenchman Arnaud Demare and the Colombian Fernando Gaviria, Buchmann is 1:08 minutes behind the overall leader and season opener winner Mathieu van der Poel.
But his two team-mates Wilco Kelderman (Netherlands) and Jai Hindley (Australia), who, like Buchmann, started the race as equal captains, also have a head start. This could be decisive if the Bora-hansgrohe team has to change strategy at some point.
Kämna presents itself in an attacking mood
Buchmann's helper Lennard Kämna provided the positive headlines from a German perspective on the first few days. The 2020 Tour de France stage winner, who took an almost nine-month break from racing last year due to mental problems, was back in an attacking mood. On Friday, the 25-year-old startled the field with a sharp attack shortly before the finish, and a day later the former junior world champion rode to a strong eighth place in the time trial.
"It was important for my self-confidence that I have the power," said Kämna, who exudes "great desire" - also in view of the huge crowds of spectators in Hungary: "It was impressive and so nice to ride in front of such a backdrop." He then wants to pursue his goal on Italian soil from Tuesday, when the Giro entourage makes its way up Mount Etna. The aim is to win a stage, as he did in 2020 when he rode away from Olympic champion and former Giro champion Richard Carapaz on the way to Villard-de-Lans at the Tour de France.
Buchmann does not have one-day victories in mind. After his fourth place in the 2019 Tour, he finally wants to finish on the podium in a grand tour. Crashes and illness have repeatedly set the climber back over the last two years. Last year, he was in a promising sixth place at the Giro until the 15th stage before he had to abandon after a crash with concussion and bruising to his face.
Buchmann is counting on the third week of this year's Giro, when the tough mountain stages are due. He wants to have reached his top level by then. After all, a bout of bronchitis had put him out of action in April. However, if he really wants to be on the podium in Verona on 29 May, he should not allow himself any more crashes.
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