Davide Ballerini wins stage 6 sprint in Naples – Giro d’Italia

Italy’s Davide Ballerini won stage six of the Giro d’Italia after the favourites crashed on the final cobbled sector in Naples. Rain started to fall as the peloton geared up for a bunch sprint when four riders fell on a cobbled corner, causing chaos and taking France’s Paul Magnier and Italy’s Jonathan Milan out of contention. Ballerini, 31, was on the inside of the right-hand corner and slipped by the mess of riders and bikes to power up the hill towards the finish line, keeping Belgium’s Jasper Stuyven of Soudal-Quick Step at bay.

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Igor Arrieta survives crash to win rain soaked stage 5 as Eulálio moves into pink – Giro d’Italia

Spain’s Igor Arrieta beat Afonso Eulalio of Portugal to win a soaking-wet stage five of the Giro d’Italia after a thrilling breakaway battle, although Eulalio had the consolation of taking the overall lead. The pair had been battling it out for victory since riding away from the peloton with about 50km to go in torrential rain, before suffering identical heavy late crashes. Both riders slid into the kerb after losing their front wheels on left-hand corners on roads covered by streams of rainwater, leaving them covered in cuts and with ripped Lycra.

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Jhonatan Narváez takes stage 4 as Giulio Ciccone grabs pink jersey- Giro d’Italia

Ecuador’s Jhonatan Narváez won stage four of the Giro d’Italia, just three days after being involved in a major crash which resulted in three of his UAE Emirates-XRG team-mates being forced to abandon the race with serious injuries. Italy’s Giulio Ciccone of Lidl-Trek was third and claimed the overall leader’s pink jersey after previous leader Guillermo Thomas Silva of Uruguay finished more the 12 minutes behind.

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Merlier claims stage 21 sprint as Pogačar wins Giro d’Italia

Tim Merlier claimed his third sprint victory on Stage 21 as Tadej Pogacar completed the first half of his Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double attempt. After suffering a late mechanical, Jonathan Milan was dragged back into the finale by his Lidl-Trek colleagues – but the Italian had spent too much energy to rival Merlier in the showdown. It means Merlier & Milan leave Italy with three wins apiece.

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Pogačar primed to win Giro after sensational sixth win on stage 20 – Giro d’Italia

Barring incident or accident, Tadej Pogacar will win the Giro d’Italia on Sunday. The Slovenian dominated in the mountains again to decimate his rivals, overhauling lone leader Giulio Pellizzari on the second of two ascents of Monte Grappa before charging away to the finish in Bassano del Grappa. Dani Martinez finished second for a first Grand Tour podium, with Geraint Thomas holding on for third.

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