Benjamin Thomas surprisingly won the fifth stage in the Giro. Cofidis’ early breakaway put the fast men at risk, as a bunch sprint was predicted in Lucca. Tim Merlier eventually sprinted to eighth place in the background.
LOOK. The highlights from stage 5 in the Giro
The start of the ride was tough, with a third category climb. Alpecin-Deceuninck opened the throttle, making it difficult for many sprinters. First Fabio Jakobsen was there for the effort and just before the top Tim Merlier, Fernando Gaviria and Caleb Ewan also had to let go.
In the end it was all for nothing because everyone was able to return fairly quickly after the climb. The peloton took a rest until the first intermediate sprint. Kaden Groves won that. That was also the moment that the four escapees took the lead: Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis), Michael Valgren (EF Education-Easy Post), Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ) and Andrea Pietrobon (Team Polti – Kometa).
They never got more than 1’10”. Still, it would be enough for the four to stay away. Despite the work of the sprinter teams, the peloton did not get any closer.
The escapees still had twenty seconds in the last kilometer. The moment for Pietrobon to try to sneak away. Eventually Valgren caught him back and Thomas took advantage of this to take the ride. An important success for Cofidis, which is struggling this season. In the peloton, Jonathan Milan wins the sprint for fifth place ahead of Caleb Ewan.
LOOK. Thomas surprisingly wins fifth stage
The Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), who immediately released his devils in the second stage on the first uphill finish in Santuario di Oropa on Sunday, remains the leader.
Who will Tadej Pogacar do in the Giro and what can Cian Uijtdebroeks and Tim Merlier do? Watch it LIVE and surf to Eurosport!
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17:14
Benjamin Thomas wins
No sprint today anyway. The platoon arrives late. Benjamin Thomas wins the sprint from Michael Valgren. Pietrobon who tried to slip away at the end lands in third place. Jonathan Milan wins the sprint from the peloton.
17:11
1 KM TO GO: Lead-outs should already be working
Another 20 seconds for the escapees. Pietrobon attacks.
5:10 PM
2 KM TO GO: Twenty-five seconds
The peloton seems to be arriving too late: who in the break will walk away with the victory?
17:08
3 KM TO GO: Thirty seconds left
The peloton is closing in, but it is Ineos that is in the lead. They don’t have to.
17:08
N0G 4 KM: Pietrobon is already empty
The rider of Team Polti – Kometa takes up the rear of the escapees. Can they still stay away with three? Another 35″.
5:05 PM
ANOTHER 6 KM: Still not seconds closer
Even though Visma-Lease a Bike, Soudal Quick-Step and Jayco-AlUla are working hard, the peloton is not getting any closer. It seems more and more that the escapees will fight for victory. Still 40″.
17:03
ANOTHER 8 KM: Peloton doesn’t really get any closer
Despite all the hard work of the main sprinter teams, the foursome remains at 44″. Can they provide a surprise?
17:02
11 KM TO GO: Now Soudal Quick-Step
A pawn from Tim Merlier then comes to the front to get closer to the escapees. The foursome rotates well and holds up well.
5:00 PM
ANOTHER 12 KM: Jayco-AlUla comes to help
Alessandro De Marchi takes the lead ahead of Caleb Ewan. With his help the peloton comes closer by a few seconds.
16:58
ANOTHER 15 KM: Lidl-Trekt takes the lead
It is mainly Lidl-Trek that is trying to charge for the flight. Soudal Quick-Step is still keeping its distance. Edward Theuns (Lidl-Trek) asks Bert Van Lerberghe (Soudal Quick-Step) for help. The flight drives strongly and maintains a fifty second lead.
16:54
ANOTHER 19 KM: Refugees still have less than a minute
After the climb, the escapees still maintain the same lead. With still twenty kilometers to go, everything points to a new sprint. Will it be another match between Merlier and Milan?
4:50 PM
ANOTHER 22 KM: Check sprinter teams
No movement in the peloton on the climb. Lidl-Trek maintains a strict pace that the sprinters can handle. If everything stays like this, we will be heading towards a sprint again.
16:47
ANOTHER 24 KM: Riders start the final climb
The escapees still have one minute on the peloton. Is anyone doing anything on the Montemagno (3 kilometers at 4.3% average)?
16:44
ANOTHER 25 KM: New fall
New fall in the peloton just before the start of the last climb. The biggest victim is Attila Valter (Visma-Lease a Bike). Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) is also there.
16:43
ANOTHER 28 KM: Thomas wins intermediate sprint
Benjamin Thomas wins the last intermediate sprint.
16:39
ANOTHER 30 KM: Martinez returns
Daniel Martinez returns after a brief delay.
16:34
ANOTHER 35 KM: Fall into the peloton
Five riders crash on a traffic island. No big names involved in the fall. Alan Riou (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) suffered the most after the tumble. The rest were able to move on faster.
16:31
STILL 37 KM: Peloton within a minute
Refugees lose a bit of their lead. The peloton comes back to 55″.
16:24
STILL 44 KM: Course situation is stable
The escapees’ lead has been the same for some time. The platoon keeps them in their sights. The foursome has a 1’10”.
16:16
ANOTHER 50 KM: Ideal situation for sprinters
The three large sprinter teams choose to keep the escapees at a safe distance. The foursome gets just over a minute. At this moment the ideal situation to start a sprint again.
In the meantime, Laporte has also come back to join. In addition to abrasions, the damage seems to be not too bad for the Visma-Lease a Bike rider.
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Tags: Benjamin Thomas Cofidis wins unexpectedly peloton arrives late Sport
