Giro d'Italia (st. 5)

Ewan (LTS) takes the win in the sprint ahead of Nizzolo (TQA) and Viviani (COF). All of the 'blues' finish safely in a stage that has seen some GC contenders lose their chances.

Another stage for the sprinters in this Giro 2021, this time between the monumental Modena and the seaside in Cattolica through a 177 flat and almost straight kilometers.

An early break with Tagliani (ANS) and Marengo (BRD) got up to 5 minutes of gap with a peloton that rode easy, but approaching the first intermediate sprint, located in Imola, the sprinters accelerated to get the points for the third position and eventually the break was over.

Later on Pellaud (ANS) and Gabburo (BRD) attacked with 65 km to go, having up to 1’20” with a peloton that pushed the pedal again for the second and last intermediate sprint of the day in Savignano sul Rubicone. At 23 km to go Gougeard (ACT) jumped from the main group to join the break, shortly after the fight for the first positions in the peloton began, leading to the catch of the three breakers.

A late crash from Sivakov (15 km to go) saw him lose his chances for the GC, same happened to Dombrowski (UAD) and Landa (TBV) with 3 km to go, the Basque had to abandon the race.

Our guys worked extraordinarily well to position Marc Soler and Nelson Oliveira (who climbed to 3rd position in GC) in order to avoid any similar trouble on a tricky approximation to the finish line in Cattolica, were Ewan (LTS) was the fastest.

The logic dictates that tomorrow is the day for a new ‘Maglia Rosa’, 160 km between Grotte di Frasassi and the final ascent to Ascoli Piceno, with two climbs in the middle.

– Start at 12.35 h, finish around 17.00 h; broadcasted by Eurosport 2 and GCN+ starting 12.20 h.

Cover image (c): BettiniPhoto