After such a strong run on Friday, Sunday's Blockhouse climb is a logical point for Lopez, who could crack. But the memory of Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates), another unknown, taking the lead in Etna two years ago and holding it for more than two weeks is too fresh in the collective Giro memory to ignore the possibility of Lopez doing the same thing.
"The situation hasn't changed and the team's long-term goal is clear," Lopez insisted after stage 7. 'If I have to work for Giulio Ciccone [team leader and GC candidate] tomorrow [Saturday] and Sunday, that's fine.'
But while Lopez recognized that "the overall contenders could make a big difference in the blockhouse," he added that he has "no idea" how long he can stay in the pink.
"Today went well," he said, but his worst moment came when he suffered a puncture while the main group was tackling the first big climb of the day, Monte Sirino, leaving him vulnerable.
"We had a plan and it worked. I just looked at the route book this morning and didn't know about the climbs, so I just took the stage as it came."
"But on the bus in the morning I decided I wanted to put Bauke [teammate Mollema] on the breakaway. And that's what happened."
Whether Morema was in front or not, Lopez's game plan was relatively simple.
"I was with him almost all day," Lopez insisted.
"But even though it was a very hard day, Sunday is an even better day for GC contenders because of the summit finish."
Lopez's continued wearing of the pink jersey meant that the local media would continue to relentlessly pursue new and fun facts about this little-known Giro leader. Today's "big revelation," to their delight, was that he speaks a little Italian, and that Lopez will have no problem with the little heat wave currently affecting the race.
"I'm from the south of Spain, where you have to put up with 40 degrees in the shade in the summer," Lopez said. But as for the climb that the Giro will take on Sunday, who knows?"
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