GERMANY’S ANDRE GREIPEL powered to victory on the fifth stage of the Giro d’Italia on Wednesday after a bunch sprint finish, as Dutchman Tom Dumoulin retained the overall lead.
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On the second day back in Italy following three opening stages in Holland, Lotto sprinter Greipel had been looking to redress the balance after fellow German and sprint rival Marcel Kittel claimed two consecutive stage wins.
But after a ferocious sprint to the finish of the 233km stage from Praia a Mare in Calabria, Greipel, known as the ‘Gorilla’ for his impressive physique, followed his victory roar by crumbling on the roadside as he tried to recover from his efforts.
Arnaud Demare, the French winner of Milan-SanRemo in March, finished a distant second for FDJ with Italian Sonny Colbrelli claiming third place for Bardiani.
Ireland’s Nicolas Roche crossed the line in 14th, four seconds behind the winning group, and now sits 10th in the general classification.
Dumoulin is expected to defend his race lead on Thursday’s sixth stage, but the comparatively short 157km race from Ponte to Roccaraso features the race’s first mountaintop finish and could see the first skirmishes between race favourite Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), as well as the climbers looking to loosen Damiano Cunego’s grip on the King of the Mountains blue jersey.
'Gorilla' Greipel wins stage five at the Giro as Dumoulin retains pink jersey
GERMANY’S ANDRE GREIPEL powered to victory on the fifth stage of the Giro d’Italia on Wednesday after a bunch sprint finish, as Dutchman Tom Dumoulin retained the overall lead.
On the second day back in Italy following three opening stages in Holland, Lotto sprinter Greipel had been looking to redress the balance after fellow German and sprint rival Marcel Kittel claimed two consecutive stage wins.
But after a ferocious sprint to the finish of the 233km stage from Praia a Mare in Calabria, Greipel, known as the ‘Gorilla’ for his impressive physique, followed his victory roar by crumbling on the roadside as he tried to recover from his efforts.
Arnaud Demare, the French winner of Milan-SanRemo in March, finished a distant second for FDJ with Italian Sonny Colbrelli claiming third place for Bardiani.
Ireland’s Nicolas Roche crossed the line in 14th, four seconds behind the winning group, and now sits 10th in the general classification.
Dumoulin is expected to defend his race lead on Thursday’s sixth stage, but the comparatively short 157km race from Ponte to Roccaraso features the race’s first mountaintop finish and could see the first skirmishes between race favourite Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), as well as the climbers looking to loosen Damiano Cunego’s grip on the King of the Mountains blue jersey.
© – AFP 2016
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André Greipel Giro d'Italia Stage 5