THE virus-hit Giro soldiers on, while elsewhere Australia’s gun sprinter proves again that he’s one of the world’s best, writes JOHN TREVORROW:
RACING is continuing across Europe with Peter Sagan resurrecting his year with an outstanding win on stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia and Australia’s Caleb Ewan bursting through to take out the Scheldeprijs in Belgium.
Stage 11 of the Giro was flat, fast and furious and was always going to be a day for the sprinters. Flying Frenchman Arnaud Demare was the unbackable favourite and showed everyone a clean set of heels as he powered away to take his fourth stage win. Sagan was second keeping the race for the prestigious points jersey alive.
Portuguese youngster Joao Almeida of Deceuninck-Quickstep is looking very comfortable in the pink leader’s jersey and holds a 34 second advantage over Dutchman Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb) with Spaniard Pello Bilbao (Bahrain McLaren) third. Young Western Australian Jai Hindley (Team Sunweb) sits in seventh place only 1m 19 seconds back.
Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) surged away from his rivals and win the Scheldeprijs on his debut in the sprinters’ Classic in northern Belgium.
Pascal Ackerman (Bora hansgrohe) was second across the line but disqualified for a dangerous move which resulted in a crash. Niccolo Bonifazio (Total Direct Énergie) was promoted to second with Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) third.
Ewan’s win ranks him alongside Demare as the premier sprinter in the world right now while in the breakaway three time winner of this event and the best sprinter in the history of the sport Mark Cavendish (Bahrain McLaren) may well have ridden his final race.
The flying Manxman, who has struggled with injuries for the past two seasons, does not have a contract for next year and hinted that this could be the end.
Stage 10 of the Giro saw a maestro performance from Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe). Many had started to doubt the Slovakian’s future as he hadn’t snared a win since the Tour de France in 2019.
Sagan, winner of more than 100 races including three world road championships, certainly turned it all around to claim his maiden Giro victory in his first ever Giro. He was the strongest in the breakaway taking both intermediate sprints then powering away on the final climb. He has reignited the battle for the points race reducing the deficit down to 36 points.
JOHN TREVORROW is a multiple Australian champion road racer and Olympian who has been doing media commentary at the Tour de France for more than 20 years.
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