Majestic Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) surged to a fourth win in the Giro d’Italia after outkicking Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and pink jersey Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates-XRG) on the uphill finish at Vicenza. It was a fifth win of the race for the Danish powerhouse’s Lidl-Trek team. Bonus seconds saw Del Toro extend his general classification lead to 38 seconds over team-mate Juan Ayuso.
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Dutchman Olav Kooij finished off a fine team effort from Visma-Lease a Bike to win Stage 12 of the Giro d’Italia in Viadana. Kooij launched from the wheel of team-mate Wout van Aert and rounded compatriot Casper van Uden to take his first win of the race. After the expected crosswind chaos did not materialise, Isaac del Toro took two bonus seconds to strengthen his grip on the maglia rosa.
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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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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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Italy’s Andrea Vendrame soloed to an outstanding victory in sodden Sappada after a large breakaway went the distance in Stage 19 of the Giro d’Italia. On the eve of the penultimate day summit showdown on Monte Grappa, Tadej Pogacar and the GC favourites played out a stalemate – and even allowed third-place Geraint Thomas back on after a late crash inside the final kilometres.
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