Giro d’Italia: first stage and pink jersey at the Danish Pedersen

Mads Pedersen first pink jersey in Albania! After a great level spring, with the third victory in Gand-Wevelgem and on the podium at the Giro delle Flanders (2nd) and Paris-Roubaix (3rd), the Danish of Lidl-Trek completes its shirts collection with the very clear victory in the first stage of the 108th Giro d’Italia, Durazzo-Tirana, 160 km. Thanks to an extraordinary Giulio Ciccone, who pilots him on the second passage from Surrel’s climb, the 2019 World Champion dominates the sprint and wins for a wheel on Wout Van Aert and Alar, Quarto Busatto. Twenty-nine years, for the mighty striker of Luca Guercilena’s Lidl-Trek, is the second victory at the Giro after that of Naples 2023 when he had passed Milan. And close to the two successes on the Tour and the three of the Vuelta. It is the first pink jersey for the US formation, which imposed its rhythm and did what she wanted.

specialist

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It is the 51st career victory for Pedersen, one of the great specialists of the classics. Immediately 2nd at Flanders in 2018, he grew up year after year and guarantees a constancy of performance at the highest level equal only to phenomena such as Pogacar and Van der Poel, with which he divided the podium of Flanders and Roubaix. Moreover, out of 12 classic spring monument held since 2022, 22 ° once arrived, but in all the others never worse than eighth place! In 2023, 6th in Sanremo, 3rd at Flander and 4th at Roubaix; In 2024, 4th in Sanremo and 3rd at Roubaix. Power and speed, a born striker.

Landa Ko

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Among the classification men, a very bad fall downhill 5.2 km from the arrival for the Basque Mikel Landa, who ended up beyond the sidewalk and fractured the clavicle: he retired. Vine, a precious shoulder of Ayuso, also ended up on the ground. To underline the extraordinary uphill performance of Ciccone: very well Roglic which, piloted by Pellizzari and Aleotti, was still at the head of the group at the last kilometer; More tense day for Juan Ayuso, who is involved in a fall of two other runners 91 km from the arrival, at the foot of the ascent of Gracen. The Spaniard of the UAE, curiously as happened to Pogacar in the Turin opening stage of Giro 2024, gives in 1 ‘, is expected by Baroncini and then returns.

final

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Everything is decided on the climb of Surrel, 6.9 km to 4.6%, peaks of 13%, to be repeated twice. The sprinters jump immediately: Moschetti, Bennett, Kooij, Magnier. Great work of the Ciccone Lidl Trek to put effort in the opponents’ legs, then Verona. Pedersen and Ciccone very well per wheel of Hoole and Konrad. Roglic with Aleotti and Pellizzari. At the top passes first Lorenzo Fortunato. Second lap: always in front of the Lidl Trek, Bilbao goes looking for Tiberi to carry it forward, so he does Pellizzari with Roglic. Van aert per wheel of Pedersen. Skip lines. 1500 meters from the GPM, it makes the ciccone rhythm with Pedersen per wheel. Van Aert struggles. GPM: Ciccone Primo with Pedersen Second, 11 km away from the arrival. Then the descent and sprint of Pedersen on Van Aert.

plan

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Tomorrow the 108th Giro d’Italia proposes the second stage, the awaited chronometer from Tirana to Tirana, 13.7 km and 150 meters in altitude. Trinted entirely citizen along very large avenues. After 8 km the tear of Sauk is faced, 1300 meters at 5.6%. The last two kilometers are identical to the first stage. Rogic, Ayuso and Tiberi can stretch on the other climbers: for the stage victory, the British Tarling against Edoardo Affini.