Former road bike world champion Mads Pedersen won the opening stage in Albania at the 108th edition of the Giro d'Italia. After 160 kilometers between the coastal city of Durrës and the capital Tirana, the Dane won the “Grande Partza” in an exciting mass sprint in front of the Belgian Wout van Aert. Orluis Aular from Venezuela finished third.
Almost five kilometers before the finish, there was still a severe fall. Shortly before the end on a departure, it caught the Spaniard Mikel Landa, who was injured. “We will try,” said the organizer, “to report news about Mikel as soon as possible.” The 35-year-old from the Soudal Quick-Step team could not continue the Giro. From his racing team it was said: “Our driver was taken to the hospital for an examination.”
All eyes on Roglič and Ayuso
No German driver made it in the top ten. Sprinter Max Kanter fell back to the finish on the last climb. However, the German professionals around Maximilian Schachmann or the climbing experts and previous year's departure winner Georg Steinhauser can have hopes for daily success on the three-week tour.
Last year's winner Tadej Pogačar stays away from the Giro. Primož Roglič from the Red Bull team and Pogačar's Spanish teammate Juan Ayuso are counted among the favorites.
There are also two more stages in Albania on Saturday and Sunday before the racing drivers continue in Italy. After mostly flat first two weeks, the mountain challenges are only pending in the third week. On the second stage, the drivers can expect a single time trial over 13.7 kilometers with start and finish in Tirana.
The Giro is the first big tour of the year before the Tour de France in July and the Spanish Vuelta at the end of August. The tour of Italy ends after 20 remaining stages on June 1st in Rome. To commemorate the late Pope Francis, the professionals then drive through the Vatican for the first time.
