Tour Moments of Joy: Stage 20 – #CiccoPimpa

I have so much respect for a rider that wants to be King of the Mountains. Someone who rides day after day racking up points. Someone who has his whole team on board. Someone who embraces the #fullpolkapox style with such verve. Someone who has the biggest smile when they clinch those bonifications. This year that someone is Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) and that’s why he’s my Moment of Joy for Stage 20 of the Tour de France.

I need to say thanks to my teammates because I think they did something crazy – Giulio Ciccone

At the start of the stage Giulio was only six points ahead of Ag2R’s Felix Gall and you can bet your last penny that the battle plan on the Lidl -Trek team bus was all #KeepCiccoInPolkas. Over to the Danish Duo to carry it out to perfection.

With the race going ballistic behind them, powerhouse Dane Mads Pedersen made sure Cicco made the break, kept the break away from the GC group long, and towed them all to the line atop the first categorised climb.

https://twitter.com/LeTour/status/1682728160566059008?s=20 Cicco took those points and then Danish champion Mathias Skjemose made sure his teammate hoovered up the next two ascents

#TDF2023 @giuliocicco1 is just one point away from making the KOM victory a mathematical certainty 🧮 pic.twitter.com/5bRHUfI0A1

— Lidl-Trek (@LidlTrek) July 22, 2023

and set him up for the maximum points and the whole darn Jersey on the Col de la Schlucht.

Look at that celebration, that’s what I want to see from a King of the Mountains.

Giulio Ciccone raises his arms at the Col de la Schlucht! 🙌

As long as he crosses the finish line, he will be the first Italian to win the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France since 1992! ⚪️🔴@giuliocicco1 | #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/dIWwXhgOLv

— Eurosport (@eurosport) July 22, 2023

Post race

🗣️"This stage will forever be my best memory of the #TDF2023. When I was told on the radio 'If you cross the summit first, you'll have won the jersey', I really realized what I had done" -🇮🇹 @giuliocicco1

🔈Hear from our @maillotapois ⤵️ https://t.co/eaq2HY9nPz

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 22, 2023

Can’t wait to see how Cicco is styled for Paris. How many more #polkapox can he squeeze onto his outfit.