| PURPLE AND RAIN FOR BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS’ SPRINT PRINCE |
After 171 kilometres between Atripalda & Salerno in Campania, during which the rain didn’t stop even for a moment, Jonathan Milan sprinted to second place on stage 5 of the Giro d’Italia, and held on to the purple points jersey for another day.
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| As soon as the peloton crossed kilometre zero, a four man break went clear, but their gap was never bigger than 3’30”, and they were reduced to three once Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) had taken the first KoM points of the day. |
It was clear that the stage would end in a bunch sprint on the Lungomare Guglielmo Marconi, and so it proved.
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The 4 & ½ hours were marked by wet roads which caused several crashes along the way. Race favourite Remco Evenepoel (SOQ) hit the deck twice, the first time caused by a dog running across the road. He was unhurt, but the incident served as a reminder to spectators at the roadside to please keep pets, children, balls, cameras etc, under control at all times, as professional cyclists face so many dangers every time they take to the start.
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The closing 16km were a completely straight run in along the seafront, and after yet more chaos caused by the treacherous conditions, at the ‘flamme rouge’ there were fewer than 30 riders in the lead group. At the front, Milan was once again marshalled brilliantly by fellow Italian Andrea Pasqualon. With them were DSM, riding for Alberto Dainese, Arkea for David Dekker, Mark Cavendish of Astana, Mads Pedersen (TFS), and Alpecin-Deceunink with Kaden Groves.
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The group thinned out until the 300 metre post, when Jonny, in 3rd wheel, pulled out to the left to find space to pass Pedersen. At the same time Groves accelerated off the front, and with no-one to slipstream, our 22 year old Italian couldn’t quite make up the bike length he needed. Groves took victory by a wheel, leaving the Bull of Buja battling to take 2nd, despite almost losing control when his wheels slid on the white painted road markings. Pedersen was 3rd, and behind them, Dainese and Cavendish touched, resulting in the British champion crashing dramatically over the finish line.
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| Groves took 50 points in the fight for the ‘Maglia Ciclamino’, but the 35 secured by Milan means that going into day 6, he still leads the competition by a single point. |
| After the stage, Jonathan, soaked to the skin and shivering with cold, reflected, |
| “I am really happy with this result, a second place, and congratulations to Kaden on the win. |
| Andrea dropped me off in the perfect place, and maybe I should have then gone one position further forward to really make the most of the great work the team did today … perhaps if I had waited behind Mads for a bit longer, or been on Kaden’s wheel, I would have won again, but I didn’t and I wasn’t, and it’s still a good result for us. |
Of course I am so proud to still have this jersey for another day, and hopefully tomorrow we can go again for the win.”
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Stage 6 is a 162km loop around Naples, with two categorised climbs; a little harder than today, but another finish that should suit the fast men.
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| (All pictures can be used for editorial and non-commercial usages only and are copyright @Sprintcycling @TeamBahrainVictorious) |
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