Australian sprinter wins in Salerno despite crashing with 7km to go. Andreas Leknessund came across as well to retain the Maglia Rosa. Remco Evenepoel and Mark Cavendish also went down
It was a dramatic finale along the coast in Salerno at the end of a rainy day in southern Italy as the race was marked by three major crashes in the last seven kilometres. Eventual winner Kaden Groves touched the ground but got back on along with race leader Andreas Leknessund and GC favourite Primoz Roglic. Remco Evenepoel was involved in another fall within 3km to go, so he didn’t lose any time. Mark Cavendish crossed the line in fifht place and later was classified fourth after Alberto Dainese was relegated for irregular sprint. Behind Groves, Jonathan Milan who retained the Maglia Ciclamino for one point and Mads Pedersen rounded out the podium.
STAGE RESULTS
1 – Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – 171 km in 4h30’19″, average speed 37.995 km/h
2 – Jonathan Milan (Bahrain – Victorious) s.t.
3 – Mads Pedersen (Trek – Segafredo) s.t.
Alberto Dainese relegated for “Deviation from the chosen line that obstructs or endangers another rider in the final sprint.”
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM)
2 – Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) at 28″
3 – Aurélien Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën Team) at 30″
4 – João Gonçalves Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) at 1’00”
5 – Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) at 1’12”
