Giro d’Italia 2024 Stage Report: Everybody thought it was going to be a sprinter’s stage, besides Jhonathan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers). The Ecuadorian attacked on the climb earlier than the end to solo to the end in Naples. His plan practically labored, because the sprinters solely caught him 50 metres from the end line. Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike) took the win by the slimmest of margins forward of factors chief, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek). There was no change on the high of the chief board going into the primary relaxation day. Tadej Pogačar stays in pink.
The ultimate kilometre
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Massive win for Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Olav Kooij’s took his first stage victory in a Grand Tour on Sunday. The Dutchman of Visma | Lease a Bike took the victory in Naples – after a detailed fought finale. After an assault on the final climb from Jhonathan Narváez, it appeared just like the INEOS Grenadiers rider had the win, however he was handed by the sprinters within the final metres.
Giro stage 9
The route is split into two components, with the primary 180km serving as an method to the difficult stage finale. The route begins on quick and principally straight roads, passing by way of a number of tunnels, runs alongside the Tyrrhenian coast and reaches Monte di Procida for a troublesome stage finale. The roads are nicely surfaced however slim, with a succession of bends, and always altering gradients. Previous Torregaveta, in Baia, the route kicks up at a 14% gradient to Lago Lucrino, heads in the direction of Pozzuoli and Posillipo, after which takes a prolonged descent down the By way of Petrarca resulting in the ultimate kilometres within the metropolis centre. The final 3 pan flat kilometres run eastwards alongside the By way of Dohrn and By way of Caracciolo. On the final km, the route takes a U-turn at a roundabout, and returns alongside the By way of Caracciolo all the best way to the end. The house straight (900m) is on 9m vast tarmac.
Sunday’s begin in Avezzano
The stage appeared to be for the robust sprinters, nevertheless it might additionally swimsuit a late attacker. Non starter immediately was Alexey Lutsenko, the Kazakh champion of Astana Qazaqstan, who had a nasty within the mountain stage to Prato di Tivo on Saturday, wasn’t initially because of sickness.
It ought to be a day for sprinter Jonathan Milan
After a delay because of a puncture by Roel van Sintmaartensdijk, the 163 remaining riders began the final stage earlier than the primary relaxation day. After the official begin, two riders from Group Polti Kometa attacked instantly. They have been the Italians Mirco Maestri and Andrea Pietrobon. Manuele Tarozzi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) gave chase, however was not robust sufficient to get throughout.
Will it’s a better day to Napoli for Tadej Pogačar and Cian Uijtdebroeks
The peloton weren’t too bothered and let Maestri and Pietrobon go. The lead of the 2 Polti-Kometa riders was simply over 2 minutes after 20 kilometres. Within the peloton, it was Alpecin-Deceuninck who set the tempo, nevertheless it wasn’t quick. The Belgian workforce have been working for his or her sprinter, Kaden Groves.
The leaders initially of the day
The lead of the 2 fluctuated round 2:30 for a very long time, however Alpecin-Deceuninck let the distinction enhance to 4 minutes. This was to be the utmost benefit for Maestri and Pietrobon, who had no probability of a doable stage victory. There can be an inevitable regrouping, however Davide Ballerini counter-attacked.
The ‘break of the day’: Andrea Pietrobon and Mirco Maestri (Polti-Kometa)
The Italian didn’t handle to get away, however he did encourage different riders to make a transfer. There was then numerous nervousness within the peloton, with extra assaults. Alpecin-Deceuninck and BORA-hansgrohe, for Danny van Poppel, lined all of the assaults and shut down all of the strikes. It then turned quite a bit calmer within the peloton and the escapees took a bit of extra time.
Pink shorts for Tadej immediately
Maestri and Pietrobon got here by way of first intermediate dash of the day. In Mondragone, Pietrobon took full factors forward of his teammate. Within the peloton, Tim Merlier, who’s fighting a painful groin after a fall within the time trial, was too quick for the purple jersey Jonathan Milan, Olav Kooij and Kaden Groves for six factors.
Alpecin-Deceuninck needed to maintain the Polti-Kometa boys shut
After the intermediate dash in Mondragone, the tempo within the peloton elevated, with the hilly finale in thoughts. 57 kilometres to go, there was a crash within the peloton. Geraint Thomas crashed simply after a roundabout. The 37-year-old INEOS rider didn’t look injured and shortly obtained again on the bike and was introduced again to the peloton by Tobias Foss and Ben Swift.
The 2024 Giro heads in the direction of its most southerly level – Napoli
After a brief chase, Thomas managed to rejoin the peloton, simply in time for the essential hills in the direction of the end in Naples. After the second and final intermediate dash in Giugliano in Campania, the place Groves took the factors, it was time for the one categorised climb of the day: the Monte di Procida (4.1km at 3%). On the climb, sprinters Fabio Jakobsen and Merlier have been dropped.
Pietrobon and Maestri have been solely allowed 2 minutes
Whereas not a lot occurred on the primary climb, the race got here alive on the following climb to Lucrino (1.1km at 6.7%). It was Julian Alaphilippe who began the motion and handed the break of Pietrobon and Maestri. The Frenchman, who was second on the gravel stage to Rapolano Terme, had Nicola Conci on his wheel. Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ), Kevin Vermaerke (DSM-Firmenich) and Ewen Costiou (Arkéa-B&B Lodges) additionally joined them.
The remaining day in Naples is on the horizon
These seven riders, Pietrobon and Maestri managed to carry on, created a lead of about 20 seconds. The peloton was not far behind and nonetheless had the state of affairs below management. Within the main group, Conci didn’t wish to work and this didn’t assist the co-operation. Alaphilippe and Costiou determined to leap away from the group and push on to the ultimate climb of the day.
Pizza for the Giro in Napoli
The 2 Frenchmen hoped to start out the ultimate climb (3.2km at 4.4%) to Posillipo, a historic district within the southwest of Naples, with a profitable lead. Within the thinned out peloton, Alpecin-Deceuninck and Lidl-Trek labored collectively of their want for a dash. The lead of Alaphilippe and Costiou continued to come back down and simply earlier than the beginning of the ultimate climb it appeared like they’d be caught. The 2 leaders began the final climb with a small very benefit, however that they had little probability.
Ewen Costiou (Arkea-B&B Lodges) and Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Fast-Step) gave it a strive
Alaphilippe was not going to surrender. The double World champion had one thing left and stated goodbye to Costiou and hoped to solo to the end in Naples. Within the group behind them, the knives have been being sharpened for a counter assault. Simply earlier than the summit, Jhonathan Narváez noticed his probability. The winner of the opening stage to Turin accelerated previous the struggling Alaphilippe.
Jhonatan Narvaez (INEOS Grenadiers) got here so shut
Alaphilippe was caught and left behind by the peloton, Narváez began the final 7 flat kilometres with a lead. Two kilometres from the end, his lead was 10 seconds, however was this sufficient? It appeared prefer it for a very long time, however Narváez turned out to be unable to keep up his result in the road. Resulting from a robust pull on the entrance by pink jersey wearer Pogačar for his teammate Juan Sebastián Molano, the sprinters have been thundering to the road. Narváez was handed by Milan and Kooij simply 50 meters from the end. The Italian was the primary to start out the dash, however this time he was overwhelmed by the Dutchman. Kooij took the win, his first in a GT. Milan got here second, Molano third.
Narváes was solely simply handed earlier than the road by the sprinters
Stage winner, Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike): “My first Grand Tour stage win was what I used to be on the lookout for nevertheless it’s been a troublesome and unfortunate first week for our workforce and a tough stage immediately. We weren’t positive to catch the breakaway riders however the workforce remained dedicated. The fellows put me in a really perfect place. It’s been tight however I actually needed this primary Grand Tour win and I hope there are numerous extra to come back.”
Olav Kooij took his first Grand Tour win
The Maglia Rosa, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Group Emirates): “I haven’t change into a lead-out man, however Molano did an excellent job to be on the entrance within the finale. He didn’t get the win however third is an efficient consequence and I used to be pleased to assist a good friend. I’ve a snug benefit earlier than the primary relaxation day. It’s good to calm down in Napoli. We have already got seen stunning sceneries because the begin of the Giro. Right here I’ll add some pizza to make it nice for positive earlier than we resume racing on Tuesday.”
Relaxation day images in pink for Tadej
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Giro d’Italia Stage 9 Outcome:
1. Olav Kooij (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike in 4:44:22
2. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek
3. Juan Sebastián Molano (Col) UAE Group Emirates
4. Alberto Dainese (Ita) Tudor
5. Danny van Poppel (Ned) BORA-hansgrohe
6. Madis Mihkels (Est) Intermarché-Wanty
7. Kaden Groves (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck
8. Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
9. Davide Ballerini (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan
10. Max Kanter (Ger) Astana Qazaqstan.
Giro d’Italia General After Stage 9:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Group Emirates in 32:59:04
2. Daniel Felipe Martínez (Col) BORA-hansgrohe at 2:40
3. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 2:58
4. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale at 3:39
5. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike at 4:02
6. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious at 4:23
7. Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan at 5:15
8. Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar at 5:28
9. Thymen Arensman (Ned) INEOS Grenadiers at 5:30
10. Jan Hirt (CZ) Soudal Fast-Step at 5:53.
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