MADRID, 23 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Belgian cyclist Tim Merlier (Soudal QuickStep) took the eighteenth stage of the Giro d’Italia this Thursday in a sprint between the towns of Fiera di Primiero and Padova, over 178 kilometers, and achieved his second victory in this edition, while the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) remains the leader for one more day.
On the penultimate day for the sprint, before the final ride in Rome, the peloton was in control at all times of the stage, despite the escape of four men who traveled alone practically from the start.
Mikkel Honoré (EF-Education EasyPost), Mirco Maestri (Polti Kometa), Andrea Pietrobon (Polti Kometa) and Fillippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane) led the way until with 10 kilometers to go they were absorbed by the large group , which was disputed for the final victory.
In the last kilometer, Lidl Trek was in charge of launching the sprint, although they lost sight of their leader, Jonathan Milan, who was far behind in the group. Despite this, the Italian, three-time winner in this edition of the Giro, was able to come back to finish in second position behind a Merlier who also appeared on the outside to close the gap in the private duel between the two.
The Belgian sprinter raised his arms in front of Milan (Lidl Trek), in a photo finish. In third position, the Australian Kaden Groves (Alpecin Deceuninck) crossed the finish line, who already has three top 3 finishes in this Giro and has not yet managed to win any stage.
This Friday the transalpine round will face the nineteenth day between Monregliano and Sappada, a 157-kilometer, medium-mountain stage that invites us to think about a breakaway victory, which will serve as an appetizer for Saturday, with the double climb to Monte Grappa, that will put the culmination of the race.
–CLASSIFICATIONS.
-Stage.
1. Tim Merlier (BEL/Lidl Trek) 3h45:44.
2. Jonathan Milan (SLO/UAE Team Emirates) m.t.
3. Kaden Groves (AUS/Alpecin Deceuninck) mt
4. Alberto Dainese (ITA/Tudor Pro Cycling Team) mt
5. Stanislaw Aniolkowski (POL/Cofidis) Mt
-General.
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO/UAE Team Emirates) 67h17:02.
2. Daniel Felipe Martínez (COL/BORA-hansgrohe) at 7:42.
3. Geraint Thomas (GBR/INEOS Grenadiers) 8:04.
4. Ben O’Connor (AUS/Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) 9:47.
5. Antonio Tiberi (ITA/Bahrain-Victorious) 10:29.
2024-05-23 15:09:19
#Merlier #wins #stage #adds #victory #Giro
