Until six kilometers before the finish, Pogačar and Thomas made a mad dash for freedom.
On May 6th, around 11 p.m. Beijing time, the 2024 Giro d’Italia Stage 3 (Novara to Fossano) concluded with a thrilling race. The teams rode as one group until the final six kilometers when Pogačar and Thomas launched a fierce breakaway, forcing the main peloton to abandon their original plans and initiate an early sprint. Amidst the chaos, Mäelleur from Quick-Step claimed victory by a hair’s breadth, defeating his opponents. Let’s review the action-packed event.
Pre-Race Highlights
Future Star. Mäelleur’s son, Jules, came to cheer for his father, with the team media jokingly dubbing him “our team’s star for 2046.” The race organizers playfully commented, “Why not earn a Maglia Rosa for him today?” (Little did they know their words would come true.)
New Pink Jersey. Wearing all “pink,” Pogačar rode his pink V4RS bike to the cheers of the crowd. After his dominating performance yesterday, his goal today was to defend the Maglia Rosa.
“Same Outfit”? Sharp-eyed fans noticed that Pogačar wore purple shorts, matching the Sprint Jersey holder, Ferrari. This coincidence left some spectators calling for a time penalty, given that the jersey production is the responsibility of the race organizers. However, it was an internal matter, and the organizers wouldn’t admit to any wrongdoing.
Withdrawal News
Dunbar from Jax Team had to withdraw after crashing in Stage 2. The team confirmed he would not continue in the race. The organizers expressed their sympathy and wished him a speedy recovery.
Race Route
The stage started in Novara, Italy’s western rice-producing region, and covered 165 kilometers south to Fossano. The route was generally flat, with only one Category 4 climb and other short steep sections that wouldn’t significantly tax the sprinters. However, the last few kilometers were gradual uphill stretches, posing a challenge to pure flat sprint specialists. Riders with proficiency in uphill sprints seemed more likely to contend for the stage win.
▲Race Route
Amid the cheers of the Novara crowd, the race began. After two intense stages led by UAE Team Emirates, teams adopted a “Classics” strategy, resulting in significant energy expenditure. With this stage being mostly flat, they chose to conserve energy for the final five kilometers. Riders chatted amiably within the peloton, enjoying a peaceful 100 kilometers.
▲Honorary Ride
At around 60 kilometers, the peloton encountered a village with a short steep climb for a Category 4 point. As the points were limited, only Cammejain (Wanty Team) and Bilbao (Astana Team) casually claimed the climbing points.