Three in a row in Giro d’Italia: Alberto Dainese takes stage win after millimeter sprint | Giro

There were five bunch sprints this Giro until today’s stage, with five different winners each time. With Kaden Groves and Mads Pedersen, there are already two stage winners at home, but for Jonathan Milan, Michael Matthews and Pascal Ackermann it was the chance to set the counter to 2 victories. The course was perfect for another bunch sprint.

Because in the grueling final week, the seventeenth stage from Pergine Valsugana to Caorle is a bit of an odd man out. The stage started at an altitude of 531 meters and ended exactly 531 meters lower without any obstacles along the way. Ideal for sprinters, and not for attackers Senne Leysen, Thomas Champion, Diego Sevilla and Charlie Quarterman who still tried, but were caught in the final phase. Leysen sputtered a bit, but without success.

It turned out to be a sprint as expected. Team DSM put Alberto Dainese off well in the last kilometre. Michael Matthews then started the sprint from far, after which Dainese sprinted off his wheel and managed to stay just ahead of the emerging Milan. Three in a row, but Dainese came out ahead of his compatriot Milan and Matthews.

Tomorrow the Giro continues with a tough mountain stage to Val di Zoldo. Geraint Thomas defends an 18 second lead over João Almeida. Primoz Roglic follows third at 29 seconds. The Giro ends in Rome on Sunday with a flat ride, also the last chance for the fast men.