After an exciting sprint, Frenchman Arno Demar won the fifth stage of the Giro d’Italia in Sicily.
Briton Giro d’Italia Mark Cavendish, looking to win the second round of the Giro at this year’s Giro, fulfilled his dream but crashed out a few kilometers away. Demare went into position in front of a tight late corner to claim the Giro’s sixth-leg career win.
Colombia’s Fernando Gaviria was second, and Italian Giacomo Nitzolo third on the 172km stage.
Juan Pedro Lopez, who became the first Spaniard to take over the leaders’ pink jersey since Alberto Contador in 2015 on Tuesday, retains his place at the top of the table.
He crossed the border at 58 in Messina.
England’s Simon Yates remains fourth overall with one minute and 42 seconds and takes the best spot among the main favorites.
We had to forget about Cavendish and Caleb Ewan, both of whom were caught climbing and couldn’t keep up with the sprint.
“What can you do?” Cavendish said.
“Of course, you are always disappointed, but we knew it would happen today. It would be a bonus if we could run, but we have to try. We will try again.”
On Thursday, the Giro left Sicily as the sixth stage of the 192km journey from Palmi to Scalea on the Italian mainland. The 21-stage competition ends on May 29 in Verona.
Fifth stage results:
- Arno Demare (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) 4 hours 3 minutes 56 seconds
- Fernando Gaviria (Col/Emirates UAE Team) Simultaneously
- Giacomo Nizzolo (Italy/Israel-Premier Tech) Simultaneously
- Davide Ballerini (Ita/Fast Step Alpha Vinyl Team) At the same time
- Biniam Girmay (Eri/Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux) At the same time
- Phil Bauhaus (Win D/Bahrain) Simultaneously
- Alberto Dainese (Ita / DSM Team) At the same time
- Natnael Tesfatsion (Eri / Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli) Simultaneously
- Edward The (Bell/Trek-Segafredo) At the same time
- Simone Consoni (Ita / Kofidis)
overall rating
- Juan Pedro Lopez (Esp / Trek-Segafredo) 18 hours 21 minutes 3 seconds
- Leonard Kamna (D/Bora-Hansgrohe) +39 sec
- Rein Taaramae (Eest / Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux) +58 seconds
- Simon Yates (GB / Team BikeExchange-Jayco) + 1 minute 42 seconds
- Mauri Vansevenant (Team Bell / Fast Step-Alpha-Vinyl) + 1 minute 47 seconds
- Wilko Kelderman (Ned / Bora-Hansgrohe) +1 minute 55 seconds
- Joao Almeida (Emirates Por/UAE Team) +1 minute 58 seconds
- Pelo Bilbao (Esp/Bahrain win) + 2 minutes
- Richie Harbor (Aus / Ineos Grenadiers) +2 min 4 sec
- Romain Barde (Fra / Team DSM) +2 min 6 sec