Fossano, 6 May 2024 – La stage 3 of the Giro d’Italia 2024 bring the caravan from Novara to Fossano After 166 km and, in the first part, he does it in an atmosphere of relaxation, chat and jokes after the efforts of the past few days. These fractions, as we know, are the most insidious because even the slightest distraction is enough to break the bank and in fact everything changes after the flying finish line of Masio (Abbey)when first a sort of runaway is created with almost all the most awaited sprinters in advance and then, driven by the pursuit from the rear, the same group splits, with men like Cian Uijtdebroeks, Lorenzo Fortunato, Juan Pedro Lopez And Alexey Lutsenko initially delayed. 43 km from the finish line the situation returns before reigniting at the flying finish line Cherascowhich sees the challenge between the Ineos Grenadiers el’UAE Team Emirates: Ben Swift manages to precede Tadej Pogacarwhich in turn comes in front of Geraint Thomascashing in 2” of discount. The challenge between the first two in the general classification reignites in the last kilometres, when the pink jersey snaps and forces the Welshman to chase him: this time not even two absolute champions can resist the return of the sprinters, with Tim Merlier to regulate Jonathan Milan And Biniam Girmay. Also there stage 4the Acqui Terme-Andora of 190 kmpresents only one GPM, but of third category, placed almost halfway through, but the ending is similar to the Milan-Sanremo it promises to be treacherous for fast wheels thanks to the presence of the legendary Cape Mele, not marked as GPM. In light of what happened today, another dramatic coup by the tandem cannot be ruled out Pogacar-Thomas: for Slovenian, in particular, the air of Very spring classic, one of his (few) residual worries in his career, could ignite the desire to go in search of another high note. The Briton on the other hand, by express declaration, must only try to keep up with the strongest and so far, especially today, the feedback has been heartening: nothing to be done however, from a general ranking perspective, for Eddie Dunbardid not leave this morning due to the after-effects of yesterday’s fall.
The news
The group leaves without it Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla), forced to withdraw due to the after-effects of yesterday’s fall. After a long phase of relaxation, tranquility, fun and almost boredom in the group, the race starts only shortly before the climb Luthe only GPM of the day: I’m the one taking the shots Davide Ballerini (Astana Qazaqstan Team) e Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Wanty), with the Frenchman passing first and the Italian being absorbed shortly after. The flying finish line of Masio (Abbey) instead it rewards Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek): surprisingly the group splits into two sections, in the first of which there is the majority of the most anticipated sprinters, who found themselves in front a bit by chance after the intermediate sprint. In fact, they are in front Kaden Groves, Tobias Bayer, Fabio Van Den Bossche, Edward Planckaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck), David Dekker (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Danny Van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe), Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis), Biniam Girmay, Madis Mihkels, Adrien Petit (Intermarché-Wanty), Tim Merlier, Luke Lamperti (Soudal Quick-Step), Tobias Lund Andresen, Kevin Vermaerke (Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL), Caleb Ewan (Team Jayco AlUla), Christophe Laporte, Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike), Alberto Dainese, Robin Froidevaux (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), Martin Marcellusi, Manuel Tarozzi And Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè). The latter, wearing the cyclamen jersey, had to deal with a puncture shortly after the Intergiro finish line Montegrosso d’Astiwhich still rewards Milan. Meanwhile, the group is mainly drawn by Team Polti Kometa, Movistar Team And Bahrain Victoriousthree teams with sprinters (respectively Giovanni Lonardi, Fernando Gaviria And Phil Bauhaus) incredibly left out of an escape that is struggling to take off, despite the favorable situation, due to the lack of agreement between the parties, with theAlpecin-Deceuninck who refuses to work harder than others despite numerical superiority. Meanwhile from behind the strong thunder of Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar Team) creates a further fracture in the group of the best: those who remain behind are, among others, Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma-Lease a Bike), Juan Pedro Lopez (Lidl Trek), Lorenzo Fortunato And Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan Team). 43 km from the finish line the situation becomes more united and calms down and the stage returns to that of the first half. The situation reignites at the flying finish line of Cherascowhere they compete Ben Swift, Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) e Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), with the first to win and collect 3” bonus: to the Slovenian, mocked by the grip of the Ineos Grenadiersand Welsh instead go respectively 2” And 1” of discount. Meanwhile, surprisingly, comes the news of the withdrawal of Simon Carr (EF Education-EasyPost) due to knee problems just as the sprinters’ teams move to the front of the group to occupy the best positions. Surprisingly, he takes an advantage in one of the many final ups and downs Pogacarimmediately taken up by Thomas: with them there is the third wheel Mikkel Frolich Honore (EF Education-EasyPost), who will soon leave the company. Not even two champions like that can resist the return of the sprinters, among whom it is the winner Merlierwho beats in the photo finish Milan And Girmay.
Order of arrival stage 3 Giro d’Italia 2024
1) Tim Merlier (SOQ) in 3h54’35”
2) Jonathan Milan (LTK) st
3) Biniam Girmay (IWA) st
4) Jenthe Biermans (ARK) st
5) Tobias Lund Andresen (DFP) st
6) Olav Kooij (TVL) st
7) Ethan Vernon (IPT) st
8) Stanislaw Aniolkowski (COF) st
9) Fernando Gaviria (MOV) st
10) Alberto Dainese (TUD) st
General classification Giro d’Italia 2024
1) Tadej Pogacar (UAD) in 11h03’02”
2) Daniel Felipe Martinez (BOH) +47”
3) Geraint Thomas (IGD) +47”
4) Einer Rubio (MOV) +56”
5) Cian Uijtdebroeks (TVL) +54”
6) Lorenzo Fortunato (AST) +1’07”
7) Juan Pedro Lopez (LTK) +1’11”
8) Jan Hirt (SOQ) +1’13”
9) Alexey Lutsenko (AST) +1’26”
10) Esteban Chaves (EFE) +1’26”
