Tadej Pogacar was third on the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia. Photo: Geert Vanden Wijngaert / AP / NTB
Of NTB | 04.05.2024 17:34:40
Sport: The stage went from Venaria Reale to Turin and was 140 kilometers long. With a few kilometers to go, Pogacar got to the front with Narváez and Maximilian Schachmann.
On the run, Narváez was the strongest, while Schachmann took 2nd place. Pogacar had to see himself beaten in the sprint, but rolled to the finish line in third place.
The Slovenian still got off to a good start at the Giro d’Italia. Pogacar is a solid favorite for the overall victory in the season’s first three-week race. He has set himself the goal of winning both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France this season.
The last time a cyclist went to the top in both races was in 1998. Then the Italian legend Marco Pantani did it.
Lilian Calmejane and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier were in breach for a long time on the stage. With 25 kilometers to go, Calmejane broke away on the way up the 2nd categorized mountain Colle Maddalena and held off for a distance.
A few kilometers before the finish, however, he was caught again. This gave Nicola Conci a chance, but he had to give up with three kilometers to go.
Vegard Stake Laengen is the assistant rider for Pogacar in the race. In addition, both Tobias Foss (Ineos) and Torstein Træen (Bahrain-Victorious) are in the grand race.
On Sunday, a 161 kilometer long stage awaits from San Francesco al Campo to Santuario di Oropa. The race ends in Rome on May 26.
The 2024 edition of the Giro d’Italia is the 107th in a row.
(© NTB)