There is no calm day on this Giro 2024. After two very competitive first stages, during which Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Emirates) showed his power and imposed his supremacy, the riders experienced a less eventful 3rd stage, with only one rib listed, but still suffered. In the last small bump, at Fossano, the Slovenian followed the attack of Mikkel Honoré (EF Education-EasyPost), and finally took off with his runner-up in the general classification, Geraint Thomas (Ineos-Grenadiers).
The two men were finally caught 300 meters from the finish. A massive sprint therefore decided the winner, and it was Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) who won. The Belgian was ahead of the Italian Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) and the Eritrean Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) by a few millimeters.
Before this final fight, a breakaway had formed after the first intermediate sprint at Masio. Under the leadership of the leader of the points classification, Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani), a group of 23 riders, mainly sprinters, isolated themselves at the front. The chasing of the peloton caused breakages, Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma-Lease a Bike) was notably trapped, but everything returned to normal 43 kilometers from the finish.
By finally finishing in the peloton, Tadej Pogacar logically keeps his pink jersey. He is still ahead of Geraint Thomas (Ineos-Grenadiers), his adventure companion, and Daniel Felipe Martinez (Bora-Hansgrohe). The first Frenchman remains Alex Baudin (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale), in 13th place.
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