Lennard Kämna defended his sixth overall place at the 106th Giro d’Italia with the last of his strength, while Olympic champion Primoz Roglic has returned in the duel of the superstars.
Kämna reached on Thursday (May 25th, 2023) on the difficult mountain stage over 161 kilometers from Oderzo Val di Zoldo just under three minutes behind the Italian winner of the day Filippo Zana the goal, leaving its closest rivals behind.
The former remains at the top of the overall standings Tour de France-Champion Geraint Thomaswho, on his 37th birthday, drove into Val di Zoldo just under two minutes behind the escapees together with the reinvigorated Slovenian Primoz Roglic.
Roglic takes second place
Roglic thus moved up to second place in the overall standings on the Portuguese Joao Almeida and can continue to dream of his first Giro triumph. The Slovenian professional cyclist had shown weaknesses during the stage, but was at his best in the final. Thomas is now 29 seconds ahead of Roglic, closely followed by Almeida (+0:39).
In the battle for the stage win, Zana beat the French star in the sprint Thibaut Pinot through. However, former Tour third-placed Pinot moved up to seventh overall and retains the mountain jersey. In the overall standings, Kämna is 4:27 minutes behind and is therefore still within striking distance of places four and five.
Friday the next exchange of blows
The next exchange of blows in the mountains follows on Friday, when the extremely difficult final ascent to the Drei Zinnen with gradients of 18 percent awaits the drivers. A total of three climbs in the first and two in the second category have to be mastered on the 183-kilometer 19th stage from Longarone to the top of the mountain. On Saturday, the mountain time trial to Monte Lussari follows, before the final stage, starting and finishing in Rome, should be a matter for the sprinters on Sunday.
| stage/date | length | Start and finish location |
|---|---|---|
1st stage – 06.05.2023 | 19.6 km | Fossacesia-Ortona (time trial) |
Stage 2 – 05/07/2023 | 201 km | Teramo-San Salvo |
Stage 3 – 05/08/2023 | 216 km | Vasto-Melfi |
Stage 4 – 05/09/2023 | 175 km | Venosa-Lake Laceno |
Stage 5 – 05/10/2023 | 171 km | Atripalda-Salerno |
Stage 6 – 05/11/2023 | 162 km | Naples – Naples |
Stage 7 – 05/12/2023 | 218 km | Capua-Gran Sasso d’Italia (mountain arrival) |
Stage 8 – 05/13/2023 | 207 km | Terni-Fossombrone |
Stage 9 – 05/14/2023 | 35 km | Savignano sul Rubicone – Cesena (time trial) |
Rest day – 05/15/2023 | ||
Stage 10 – 05/16/2023 | 196 km | Scandiano-Viareggio |
Stage 11 – 05/17/2023 | 219 km | Camaiore-Tortona |
Stage 12 – 05/18/2023 | 179 km | Bra-Rivoli |
Stage 13 – 05/19/2023 | 207 km | Borgofranco d’Ivrea – Crans Montana (mountain arrival) |
Stage 14 – 05/20/2023 | 193 km | Sierre-Cassano Magnago |
Stage 15 – 05/21/2023 | 195 km | Seregno-Bergamo |
Rest day – 05/22/2023 | ||
Stage 16 – 05/23/2023 | 203 km | Sabbio Chiese-Monte Bondone (mountain arrival) |
Stage 17 – 05/24/2023 | 195 km | Pergine Valsugana – Caorle |
Stage 18 – 05/25/2023 | 161 km | Oderzo-Val di Zoldo (mountain arrival) |
Stage 19 – 05/26/2023 | 183 km | Longarone – Tre Cime Lavaredo (mountain arrival) |
Stage 20 – 05/27/2023 | 18.6 km | Tarvisio-Monte Lussari Tudorg (time trial) |
Stage 21 – 05/28/2023 | 135 km | Rome – Rome |