Groves wins chaotic fifth stage of Giro d’Italia

On a day of crashes, a stray canine on the street and relentless rain, Australia’s Kaden Groves was about the one man to finish a chaotic fifth stage of the Giro d’Italia smiling, thanks his maiden victory within the race.

Even Groves could not keep away from the quite a few crashes on the 171km route from Atripalda to Salerno, however he picked himself up with 7km to go for a sensational victory.

Others weren’t so fortunate. Favorite Remco Evenepoel was nearly taken out of the race by a stray canine and Britain’s Mark Cavendish slid throughout the end line on his bottom to take fifth place.

Evenepoel, who misplaced the chief’s pink jersey on Tuesday, hit the deck twice on a bruising day for the world champion. First when a stray canine nearly bumped into the peloton, then inside the ultimate three kilometres in what proved to be a harmful end.

That second fall for the Belgian got here in one in every of three crashes to hit the peloton within the closing seven kilometres of the stage from Atripalda to Salerno.

Evenepoel’s predominant rival, Primoz Roglic, and the race chief, Andreas Leknessund, had been amongst these held up when a number of riders fell as they turned on to the seafront seven kilometres from the end.

Extra hassle adopted and Evenepoel was taken out when a number of riders went down once more with slightly over 1500 metres remaining.

That left a diminished dash up entrance however there was nonetheless extra drama to return.

Cavendish’s wheel slipped when he launched his transfer, however as he struggled to remain upright he nudged first into Alberto Dainese, then Filippo Fiorelli towards the limitations, earlier than taking place sliding throughout the road for one of many stranger top-fives of his profession.

Cavendish then hit Andrea Vendrame after crossing the road and the Italian was carried away on a stretcher.

Out in entrance, Groves, 24, had the facility to carry off Jonathan Milan for his first Giro victory.

“I shocked myself in the present day. Every little thing was going properly till I crashed on the roundabout seven kilometres to go,” the Australian stated.

“I put my chain again on quick sufficient and the teams got here again collectively. It wasn’t very clear, we misplaced one another however fortunately sufficient I used to be in place behind DSM and I had the legs to win.

“It is a dream to win, it is a race I have been specializing in since November or December… After two third locations this week, they (the staff) delivered me to a win.”

Victory for Groves on a moist, dismal day in Italy adopted two third-placed finishes for the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider this week and a stage win for fellow Australian Michael Matthews.

The stage had begun in horrible circumstances in southern Italy, compounded when a canine bumped into the street slightly over 20km in.

Davide Ballerini tried to take evasive motion however fell in slippery circumstances, with Evenepoel taking place behind him.

Evenepoel was sluggish to rise up however ultimately provided a thumbs as much as a digicam bike. However his good temper had evaporated by the end as he minimize a pissed off determine rolling over the road.

Thursday’s 162km sixth stage begins and finishes in Naples after going via Sorrento and alongside the Amalfi coast.

The Giro ends in Rome on Might 28.

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