Throughout this week, we will look back and celebrate seven magical moments for Israel Start-Up Nation in 2021, presented by Vini Fantini.

The second moment we have chosen is from May, when Alessandro De Marchi took the pink leader’s jersey at the Giro d’Italia after finishing second on stage 4. A historic moment for ISN, getting the team’s first ever leader’s jersey in a Grand Tour.

The night before the stage, De Marchi had already talked with his Italian sports director, Claudio Cozzi, about the chances of taking the jersey the next day. Therefore, it was no surprise to see De Marchi, a true breakaway specialist, make it into the right move at the start of the day.

On the final ascent towards the finish in Sestola, De Marchi made sure to stay near the leaders fighting for both the stage win and the pink jersey. Ultimately, the 35-year-old Italian had to settle for second place but he still managed to secure the biggest achievement of his career so far, which left him in tears as he crossed the line.

Alessandro De Marchi: “Getting to wear the Maglia Rosa has been absolutely amazing for me. It was not only a historical moment for Israel Start-Up Nation but also for me. With the type of rider I am, and being Italian, surely this has been the biggest moment of my career. It’s also something that has changed me a lot in regards to being more confident. I got so many happy messages from the cycling world after taking the jersey and that’s something that goes way beyond the result itself. I couldn’t have done it without my team and I’m really happy to have contributed to writing ISN’s history with this achievement.”

Seven Magical Moments for Israel Start-Up Nation in 2021:

Part 1: Mads Würtz Schmidt’s victory on stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico