For the third stage of the Corsa Rosa a sprint finish was expected, and so it happened. The winner at the end of the 166 km that divided Novara from Fossano was the thirty-one-year-old sprinter Tim Merlier, a Belgian from Soudal Quick-Step, who got the better of the Italian Jonathan Milan – a 23-year-old from Lidl Trek who had won the intermediate finish line in day – and of the Eritrean Biniam Girmay, 24 year old from Intermarché. For Merlier, this is the second personal partial success in the Giro d’Italia, after the victory obtained in the Stupinigi-Novara in the 2021 edition.
Of note, about 2 km from the finish line, was the attempt to break away made by Tadej Pogacar, the leader of the general classification, who in the last meters of the only climb of the day followed the attack launched by the Dane of EF Mikel Honoré – from Ticino of adoption – and with him he launched himself towards the finish line, but very closely marked by the British Geraint Thomas, 38 year old from Ineos and second in the general classification and therefore forced to respond. The trio continued the action for about 1 km, creating a gap against the group, but not enough to avoid the return of the sprinters, capable of closing the gap about 300 meters from the finish banner and, as mentioned, of finally launch into the sprint.
After the first three stages, the Slovenian Pogacar – a big favorite for the final success – maintains the leadership of the race: he had won the pink jersey on Sunday by aggressively winning in Oropa, and on Monday he managed to defend it in the best possible way. His lead in the standings still amounts to 45 seconds over Thomas, his closest pursuer. On Tuesday, for the fourth stage, the caravan will move from Acqui Terme (Piedmont) to Andora (Liguria), 190 km which includes the climb of the Colle del Melogno (1,032 m above sea level), a third category Gpm. Afterwards it will be almost all downhill and, in the finale, a long stretch of the fourth stage retraces the usual route of the Milan-Sanremo, a very spring classic.
