Tim Merlier equalizes the score with Jonathan Milan and wins his third stage in this Giro d’Italia 2024. But behind this sprint there really is a story to tell. Because right at the last pass under the finish line the Friulian in the cyclamen jersey was forced to stop to change his bicycle due to the chain breaking. Ten, twenty, thirty, forty seconds and more before the flagship arrives, the giant from Buja is there leaning against the barriers waiting. And then he sets off again, practically launching himself into a fantastic chase, first zigzagging between the flagships, then catching up with the train of his Lidl Trek companions who helped him rejoin the group and then launch into a sprint. Eight kilometers or more without breathing and then in the last hundred meters the legs become wooden and are no longer able to counter the feline impulse of a very good Tim Merlier. Third place for Kaden Groves and then the others to follow with Pogacar who, after having worked for Molano in the last kilometres, can finally celebrate.
THE RACE. After the first kilometers of walkway, photos and group toasts, the platoon headed towards the Urbe circuit and shortly before crossing the finish line Domenico Pozzovivo he took some margin, his colleagues left him space and walkway to celebrate his eighteen participations in the pink races.
Moments later the real race began Four men attackedi: Martin Marcellusi (VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè), Alex Baudin (Decathlon AG2R La Difesa Team), Ewen Costiou (Arkéa – B&B Hotels) and Mikkel Frølich Honoré (EF Education – EasyPost).
At the conclusion of the second lap Martin Marcellusi won the first Flying Finish line of the day ahead of Mikkel Frølich Honoré e. Alex Baudin.
Extremely unlucky Jonathan Milan was forced to change his bike 8 kilometers from the end and launch into an incredible chase, practically free-diving and…
THE AWARDS. The last stage of the Giro d’Italia 2024 delivers the Endless Trophy to Tadej Pogacar which the Slovenian phenomenon of UAE Team Emirates deservedly achieved by scoring six stage victories, leaving Dani Martinez of BORA – hansgrohe, second, at 9’56” and Geraint Thomas of INEOS Grenadiers, third, at 10’24” in the general classification.
Pogacar conquers also the climbers ranking ahead of Giulio Pellizzari of VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè and the German Georg Steinhauser of EF Education – EasyPost who returns to his homeland also with the stage victory achieved at Passo Brocon.
In the youth ranking, Antonio Tiberi is celebrating: the standard bearer of Bahrain – Victorious, fifth and best Italian in the general classification, dresses in white leaving behind Thymen Arensman of INEOS Grenadiers and Filippo Zana, from Vicenza of Jayco AlUla.
The king among sprinters is Jonathan Milan: the big boy from Lidl Trek wins the points classification and the cyclamen jersey by getting the better of Groves and Merlier
ORDER OF ARRIVAL
1) Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) in 2h50’51”
2) Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) st
3) Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) st
4) Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) st
5) Tim Van Dijke (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) st
6) Stanisław Aniołkowski (Cofidis) st
7) Alberto Dainese (Tudor) st
8) Giovanni Lonardi (Team Polti Kometa) st
9) Caleb Ewan (Jayco AlUla) st
10) Donovan Grondin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) st
