Giro di Sicilia 2023, Fisher-Black wins the first stage at Agrigento- Corriere.it

Finn Fisher-Black who? The question is not legitimate, at least among insiders, if you intend to tell the winner (surprise for the general public, let’s face it) della first stage of the Tour of Sicily 2023, the Marsala-Agrigento of 159 kilometres. Because this 21-year-old tall and skeletal (1.90m for about seventy kilos) was born and raised in New Zeland one of the most promising kids in world cycling. On the final ramp towards the historic center of Agrigento, where everyone expected the captains of his UAE, Ulissi, Bennett or Majka, instead he took off a little less than a kilometer from the finish, gaining a good 8″ which adds up to 10″ of rebate on Albanese, on Ulissi himself, on Caruso and Lutsenko. The best victory of my career, he declared immediately after the finish line.

Fischer-Black perfectly in line with the new trends in world cycling (see the Van Aerts, the Van Der Poels or the Gannas): it goes fast on any terrain. Born pistard (junior world record holder over 3000 meters individual pursuit), excellent chronoman and skilled sui fighter rough gravel terrain besides of course road racer. The two big teams of world cycling immediately noticed him, the Jumbo-Visma who two years ago signed him alongside future Tour de France winner Vingegaard and the UAE Emirates who is now insured to guarantee him gradual growth, a job alongside the Martian Pogacar first and perhaps for a leading role later.

Not entirely happy with the space he had in Jumbo, Fisher-Black (who on his first day in Sicily he wore all four leaders jerseys: overall, points, mountain and best junior) chose Uae for the possibility of competing immediately in important races and perhaps to be able to get back on track from time to time like our Ganna does.

Among his own modelsas well as Vincent Nibali who awarded him on the stage in Agrigento together with the regional governor Schifani, there sister (one year older) Niamh, one of the best professional cyclists in the world. For the continuation of the Giro di Sicilia, Finn does not make plans: We have many possible captains in the team – explains Fisher-Black – we will decide on the field who will make the race. The idea that, given his condition, the UAE would be happy to bring him in leader’s jersey up to the final stage in Giarre, on the slopes of Etna.