Jhonatan Narvaez spoils Tadej Pogacar’s pink party in Turin

It will not be a pink playground from the first to the last day: Tadej Pogacar (UAE) missed out on the stage victory and the pink jersey on the opening day of this Giro. The Slovenian could not drop Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos) in a difficult final and the Ecuadorian was the fastest after a sprint with the three of them. Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) nestled between the duo. Quinten Hermans (6th) and Mauri Vansevenant (7th) contributed to the top 10.

• Winner of the day: in Ghent-Wevelgem, Jhonatan Narvaez saw his spring end abruptly due to a concussion in a fall. 6 weeks later he conquers his first pink jersey ever and his 2nd stage victory in the Giro.
• Loser of the day: Thymen Arensman is on paper the shadow leader of Ineos-Grenadiers. But the Dutchman was already hit with a turn of 2’17” today.
• Still waiting for pink: Tadej Pogacar seemed unbeatable on paper in this stage, but that was without Narvaez. Tomorrow Pogacar can take over the pink on the first uphill finish.

How can Tadej Pogacar miss out on the pink jersey in the opening stage? That was the big question at the start.

His teammates immediately brought up the sieve on the Colle Maddalena. Classification men such as Arensman and Bardet did not survive the selection.

Outsiders such as Luke Plapp, Valentin Paret-Peintre and Romandie revelation Lipowitz also saw stars. “Heavyweight” Ganna remained on board.

With a blistering attack, Pogacar suffocated friend and foe at the foot of the steep final hill.

Only Alaphilippe and Jhonatan Narvaez could follow the unleashed Slovenian, but the Frenchman had messed up.

When Pogacar fired another flare just before the top, Narvaez remained firmly stuck in his wheel.

On the descent Schachmann came to hook up his cart. Pogacar kept accelerating to gain as many seconds as possible from the competition.

From the front, Pogacar started the sprint from quite a distance. Narvaez quickly got off the wheel and handed the supposedly unbeatable Slovenian a sprint defeat.

So no first pink jersey for Pogacar, but for Ineos-Grenadiers and Narvaez. Tomorrow the first arrival uphill to Oropa awaits. Will the pink jersey end up in the hands of Pogacar?

• Quinten Hermans (6th): “I felt very good. But I soon saw that Pogacar was pulling away quite impressively at the foot with 2 men at his wheel. My legs reassured me. We will see what is possible later in this Giro.”
• Mauri Vansevenant (7th): “It’s very simple. When Pogacar goes, it is very difficult to follow. On such a steep climb, the trick is to ride at your own pace.”

  “I was thinking about the white jersey today, because it is the last year that I am eligible for it. Tomorrow will be another difficult stage, maybe I will succeed.”

  “I started with the intention of going all out for the first 2 days. After that, we’ll see.”
  
  

• Cian Uijtdebroeks (14th): “I felt good on the long climb (Maddalena). The last climb was very explosive. I was a bit too far and had to close some gaps. The lactic acid therefore accumulated quickly.”

  “The fact that some classification men have lost time gives confidence and is fun. Tomorrow I want to hang on as long as possible.”

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