ROME – 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 grabbing 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 attackedthe Roman Martin Marcellusi (VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè), the French Alex Baudin (Decathlon AG2R La Difesa Team) and Ewen Costiou (Arkéa – B&B Hotels) together with the Dane Mikkel Frølich Honoré (EF Education – EasyPost).
At the conclusion of the second lap Martin Marcellusi conquered the first Flying Finish Line of the day ahead of Mikkel Frølich Honoré and Alex Baudin while the finish line Intergiro of the Imperial Forums was the prerogative of Costiou It is in the Honoré was the flying finish line on the sixth lap to pass in front of everyone. When there were 12 kilometers to go to the finish line, the group completed the chase and became united again. At nine the unfortunate mechanical accident in Milan, the practically freediving chase, the last very fast pedals of the group in this Giro d’Italia 2024 and the signatures of Merlier and Pogacar in the Eternal City.
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.
Article by Tuttobiciweb.it
