Unexpected and in some ways sensational epilogue in the fifth stage of the Giro d’Italia (Genoa-Lucca). In a hamlet practically flat and therefore favorable to the big group and the sprinters, arrives a four-man breakaway at the finish line which characterized most of the day.
The Frenchman wins Benjamin Thomas, who rides for Cofidislives on Lake Garda and is one track specialistahead of the Dane Michael Valgren (EF), in Italian Andrea Pietrobon and to the other French Enzo Paleni (Groupama). Pietrobon did dream of the fans of “our” Polti-Kometa: the 25-year-old from Belluno tried everything with a sharp sprint in the last kilometre.
The blue runner has cherished the dream of winning for the first time among the professionals but the more experienced Thomas and Valgren have it passed 50 meters from the finish line. For now, it remains the best placing for Ivan Basso’s team in this Giro. They will try again for sure.
He was 11″ behind the quartet Jonathan Milan to win the group sprint: good for the cyclamen jersey consolidated by the blue, bad because the Lidl-Trek sprinter could have repeated the success yesterday in Andora. But after having brought the fugitives closer to 30″ the platoon was unable to make the final push to recover from the leaders also due to an action by Alpecin on the last little climb which changed the plans of the other teams.
As expected, it stays balance in squad Tadej Pogacar good at keeping himself in the top 20 in the hot phases to avoid crashes, fans and various problems. Tomorrow – Thursday – is the stage Rapolano Terme who appears rather nervous especially at the end, has three stretches of dirt road and promises a spectacle.
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