Giro d’Italia 2024 Stage Report: On a stage that seemed almost tailored for the sprinters, a break managed to carry off a quick ending peloton by 11 seconds for the win. Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) out-sprinted his escape colleagues; Michael Valgren (EF Schooling-EasyPost), Andrea Pietrobon (Polti Kometa) and Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ). Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) gained the bunch dash for fifth place forward of Caleb Ewan (Jayco AlUla). there was no change on the general lead as Tadej Pogačar (UAE Workforce Emirates) completed safely within the peloton.
Stage 5: Final KM
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A win the Cofidis group wanted – Ben Thomas
Benjamin Thomas gained the fifth stage of the 2024 Giro d’Italia in Lucca. The Frenchman of Cofidis was the very best of a number one group that shocked the sprinters after 180 kilometres. Thomas bought the higher of Michael Valgren, Andrea Pietrobon and Enzo Paleni. The peloton was too late: Jonathan Milan gained the dash for fifth place 11 seconds later.
Stage 5 profile
The stage follows the Tyrrhenian coast. The 179 kilometre stage has two climbs, two intermediate sprints and ought to be one other likelihood for the sprinters, with just one,700 meters of climbing. The primary climb of the day is the Cat.3 Passo del Bracco, it’s 15.2 kilometres lengthy and has a mean gradient of three.9%. It comes greater than 115 kilometres from the end, so shouldn’t have an effect on the ultimate. What might make a distinction is the Montemagno (3km at 4.3%), however most sprinters ought to handle.
Matching shorts at this time for total chief Tadej Pogačar
Mattia Bais (Polti-Kometa) and Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ) had been the primary rider to assault. That they had Ewen Costiou (Arkéa-B&B Motels) with them, however the Frenchman was dropped. His place on the entrance was taken by Simon Geschke (Cofidis) and Manuele Tarozzi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè).
A pleasant day on the Tyrrhenian coast
Within the peloton, Lidl-Trek, Soudal Fast-Step and Alpecin-Deceuninck took management. The hole was held at 2 minutes because the sprinter’s groups didn’t need to give the leaders an excessive amount of time, it was finally decreased to 1 minute. On the lengthy climb of the Passo del Bracco, Alpecin-Deceuncinck took the lead for Kaden Groves. The primary sufferer among the many sprinters was Fabio Jakobsen.
Leaving the coast for a little bit of climbing
On the final 5 kilometres of the Bracco, Caleb Ewan and Tim Merlier had been additionally in hassle, however they restricted the injury and had been capable of rejoin the peloton. Simon Geschke took probably the most factors on the summit, however the peloton wasn’t far behind and caught them on the descent. The early break of the day ended greater than 100 kilometres earlier than the end, however that wasn’t the tip of the story
The early break – Simon Geschke (Cofidis), Manuele Tarozzi (VF Group-Bardiani-CSF-Faizane’), Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ) and Mattia Bais (Polti Kometa)
After the descent of the Passo del Bracco, Alpecin-Deceuninck eased off, inflicting the peloton to come back to a standstill. This gave Jakobsen, Julius van den Berg and Gijs Leemreize to shut in on the peloton. At one level the Dutch riders had been at 4 minutes behind. At 90 kilometres from the end they made contact.
The UAE group had been taking care of Pogačar, till Alpecin-Deceuninck took over
Jakobsen didn’t struggle within the subsequent intermediate dash. Kaden Groves beat Olav Kooij and Jonathan Milan. There was a nasty crash involving Christophe Laporte, who hit a gap within the street. The Frenchman was capable of proceed, however had an extended chase to catch the peloton. Shortly after the intermediate dash, there was a brand new break of 4 riders: Michael Valgren (EF Schooling-EasyPost), Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis), Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ) and Andrea Pietrobon (Polti Kometa).
The break held out very effectively
The 4 by no means had greater than 2 minutes and began the Montemagno (3 km at 4.3%) with lower than a minute. Lidl-Trek did the whole lot they might to shut the hole on that climb, nevertheless it didn’t work. After the descent, there was no assist for Milan’s teammates. Soudal Fast-Step, Jayco AlUla, Visma | Lease a Bike and Intermarché-Wanty finally noticed the hazard and 10 kilometres from the end, began to work. The distinction to the 4 leaders was nonetheless 45 seconds.
Alpecin wished to make it laborious for the sprinters on the climb of Passo del Bracco
Polti Kometa have had a person in almost each break
The lead didn’t come down rapidly, as a result of Valgren, Thomas, Paleni and Pietrobon had been working effectively collectively. At 5 kilometres from the end the hole was nonetheless 40 seconds. The peloton was having lots of issue catching the leaders and on the 1K purple flag it was clear that one of many riders within the beak was going to win. Pietrobon, who had not achieved any work within the final kilometres, tried to leap away in that ultimate kilometre. The Italian opened a giant hole and possibly had the win in his pocket, however Paleni closed the hole for the others.
Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis), Michael Valgren (EF Schooling-EasyPost), Andrea Pietrobon (Polti Kometa) and Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ) – With 4K to go, they nonetheless had 30 seconds
Ultimately it was a dash between Valgren and Thomas. The Dane was the primary to leap, however was handed by the French monitor rider, taking the primary victory for the season for the Cofidis group. The peloton was solely 11 seconds behind on the end line, with factors chief Jonathan Milan first in fifth place. The opposite prime quick males, Tim Merlier and Olav Kooij, completed eighth and ninth.
Prime effort by the break
Stage winner, Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis): “It was like an extended group pursuit. It was a tremendous break. Each pull within the ultimate was full gasoline. With 10km to go, with 50 seconds, I began to assume that we might go for the win. With the tailwind, we might play with the bunch. Within the final kilometre I’ve remembered Carcassonne the place I missed out on the win in related situations, I’ve thought possibly at this time is my day. I’ve taken the danger to lose when the Italian rider [Andrea Pietrobon] rode solo. Perhaps it was my future to take my first large win in Italy the place I reside and I’m glad to ship the primary win for Cofidis. I’ve seen my team-mates tremendous completely satisfied.”
The bunch dash went to factors chief – Jonathan Milan
Maglia Rosa, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Workforce Emirates): “It was an fascinating day at this time. The final hour or so was very quick. It was very tense coming to Lucca. The breakaway stayed in entrance as a result of it was a late breakaway. Tomorrow can be a stage to watch out and never lose any time.”
One other day in pink for Tadej
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Giro d’Italia Stage 5 Outcome:
1. Benjamin Thomas (Fra) Cofidis in 3:59:59
2. Michael Valgren (Den) EF Schooling-EasyPost
3. Andrea Pietrobon (Ita) Polti Kometa
4. Enzo Paleni (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 0:03
5. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek at 0:11
6. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Jayco AlUla
7. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain-Victorious
8. Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal Fast-Step
9. Olav Kooij (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike
10. Madis Mihkels (Est) Intermarché-Wanty.
Giro d’Italia General After Stage 5:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Workforce Emirates in 19:19:15
2. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:46
3. Daniel Felipe Martínez (Col) BORA-hansgrohe at 0:47
4. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike at 0:55
5. Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar at 0:56
6. Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan at 1:07
7. Juan Pedro López (Spa) Lidl – Trek at 1:11
8. Jan Hirt (CZ) Soudal Fast-Step at 1:13
9. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan at 1:26
10. Esteban Chaves (Col) EF Schooling-EasyPost.
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