However, on paper, this success could have eluded the sprinters this Monday. With a bump to lead to the finish area, in Fosano, where Philippe Gilbert won on the Gran Piemonte in 2009. “This finale was indeed very hardcomments Tim Merlier, very touched, at the finish, to win at this level under the eyes of his partner Cameron Vandenbroucke and their child. The tempo was really high on this climb.”
In which Tadej Pogacar himself came out with Geraint Thomas and the Dane Mikkel Honoré. “I didn't know it was Pogi, I was too far away… Then, on the flat, I saw that there were men in front, but I wasn't too worried, it was still far from the line . There either, I still didn't know it was Tadej… My teammates, including Vansevenant and Alaphilippe, put me back in place for the finish.”
On Sunday, I watched Pogacar celebrate his victory on the podium and I told myself that it could be me this Monday…”
By putting him back on Jonathan Milan's Lidl-Trek train. But Tim Merlier suddenly decided to change rails and switches. He went from the wheels of the Italian colossus to those, on the other side of the road, of Olav Kooij. Before going up the young Dutchman and finishing almost at the same height as… Milan. “I think I made the best jump of my careeradds the Belgian, smiling. Winning the Giro remains emotional. On Sunday, I watched Pogacar celebrate his victory on the podium and I said to myself that could be me on Monday… I'm happy to have achieved it.”
At the end of a stage, it leaves on a train of senators before bursting into flames in its last part. Particularly when a group of… sprinters, made up of around twenty units, sowed discord in the race scenario by gaining a minute's lead over the peloton! With, at the front, Merlier, Milan, Ewan, Groves, Girmay… “It was just after an intermediate sprint. It sped up, I warned the team to be careful, but, when I turned around, I was surprised to see a gap. I participated in the relays, but without going all out. It was not an ideal situation for me and I was very happy to see the peloton come back.”
Uijtdebroeks still in white and offensive Pogacar even pinker
This successful day for the Belgians also resulted in the white jersey kept by Cian Uijtdebroeks. While Tadej Pogacar still put on the show. Even if he denies it. “No no, I didn't attack, he answered questions about his presence at the head of the race a few hundred meters from the finish. “There was an attack and I followed… I found myself in front with Honoré and… G. I was a little surprised to see Geraint Thomas take over. I decided to give it a try too. Without really believing it, however, with the sprinter teams behind us.”
But we feel that the pink jersey had fun. While continuing to impress. “It was impossible to follow him”, breathes the fireworks maker Honoré. Geraint Thomas admitted to having had all the difficulty in the world relaying the Slovenian. “It was a little unreal to find two of us, at the front, on such a stage to sprint.”
Earlier in this stage full of surprises, he had taken a bonus second on an intermediate sprint, half as much as the leader of the event: Pogacar is therefore even a little rosier before the fourth stage of this Tuesday, planned between Acqui Terme and Andora. It should again end in a sprint despite a third category climb halfway through.
