Alberto Dainese takes a very tight sprint in the Giro decided by ‘photo finish’

MADRID, 24 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Italian cyclist Alberto Dainese (Team DSM) won this Wednesday the seventeenth stage of the Giro d’Italia, disputed between Pergine Valsugana and Caorle over 195 kilometers, in a ‘photo finish’ finale after a disputed and precious sprint, beating his compatriot Jonathan Milan (Bahrain-Victorious) and Australian Michael Matthews (Jayco Alula).

After yesterday’s hard day, the peloton had a transition stage ahead of them before the three mountainous days of the coming days. They took it as such, letting a group of four runners break away in the first kilometers of the route.

The Spanish Alberto Sevilla (Eolo Kometa), the Belgian Senne Leysen (Alpecin Fenix), the French Thomas Champion (Cofidis) and the British Charlie Quarterman (Corratec) formed the leading group, although they did not get more than three minutes away from a squad that had them under control at all times.

With twenty kilometers to go, when they were going to be ‘hunted’ thanks to the efforts of an Astana who wanted to give Mark Cavendish a victory, Leysen launched alone, managing to open a gap of more than twenty seconds, until he was neutralized two kilometers before goal.

In the final sprint in Caorle, the first to jump was Matthews, who led the rest by a few metres, but Dainese and Milan came from behind to overtake him, who gained more than ten places in the last few metres. Finally, the ‘photo finish’ ruled that the winner was the one from DSM, who achieved his second victory in the Giro d’Italia, after winning in Reggio Emilia last edition.

A very quiet day for the men in the general classification, in which there was no change, Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) maintained the ‘pink jersey’ with an 18-second lead over Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) and 29 over Primoz Roglic (Jumbo visma).

This Thursday the mountain returns in a short but demanding day, with 161 kilometers between Oderzo and the arrival at the top of Val di Zoldo, with 3,700 meters of unevenness that will serve as an approximation to the Dolomites. At the beginning, the Passo della Crosetta in 1st class will be ascended, which could break the race. After this, a chain of ascents and descents, in which Forcella Cibiana (1st) and Val di Colzo (2nd) stand out, at the top of which will be the finish line.

-CLASSIFICATIONS.

-Stage.

.1. Alberto Dainese (ITA/Team DSM)                    4h26:08.

.2. Jonathan Milan (ITA/Bahrain Victor) mt

.3. Michael Matthews (AUS/Jayco Alula)                 m.t.

.4. Niccolo Bonifazio (ITA/Intermarché) mt

.5. Simone Consonni (ITA/Cofidis) mt

– General.

.1. Geraint Thomas (GBR/Ineos Grenadiers)        71h58:43.

.two. João Almeida (POR/UAE Team Emirates) on 18.

.3. Primoz Roglic (ESV/Jumbo-Visma)                    29.

.4. Damiano Caruso (ITA/Bahrain Victory) 2:50.

.5. Edward Dunbar (IRL/Jayco Alula)                  3:03.