A fagianata (say fah-jah-NAH-tah) is an attack without a surge. The rider gains a few meters while barely letting it show, pedaling as if nothing were happening; then the pedal stroke gets stronger, and five or ten meters become twenty, thirty. By the time the bunch notices, the rider is gone: seconds taken without drawing attention and without wasting energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s the Italian word Riccardo Magrini brought into his commentary on Eurosport, and by now it’s tied to his name. This is how he explains it: \u201cwhen a rider goes clear without making a real surge.\u201d The image is that of the pheasant (fagiano in Italian, so a fagianata is a pheasant’s move), which before taking flight slips away on foot, \u201cdi pedina,\u201d without being noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n