Strong criticism of precarious Giro finish: ‘I’m glad I’m still alive’ | Cycling

Almost the entire peloton raced towards the finish line at high speed in the finishing town of Andora on Tuesday. That high speed had everything to do with the descent of the Capo Melo, which was just before the finish. Jonathan Milan took the stage win, with Kaden Groves and Phil Bauhaus behind him.

Afterwards, Bauhaus was not bothered by missing out on the stage win. Still, he was quite irritated. “A third place in the Giro is a good result,” said the German Eurosport. “But I’m not a fan of these types of finishes. I think it’s much more important that everyone crosses the line safely.”

Tim Merlier was also a day after his stage victory not amused. “I’m especially happy to be alive, because with 1 kilometer to go I saw two riders shoulder to shoulder. One almost flew over the fences.”

Rosette jersey wearer Tadej Pogacar was hardly visible in the final for the first time this Giro. That too could not be seen separately from the perilous finish, where he might have been able to help sprinter Juan Sebastián Molano.

“That would have been too dangerous even if Molano had dropped all the way back,” Pogacar said. “At the top of Capo Mele I retreated and looked at the chaos before me.”

“It was a relatively calm day, especially because the team did a good job,” Pogacar continued. “In all parts of the course they kept me safe at the front, and also well entertained. It was a good day for us.”

The Giro continues on Wednesday with a stage from Genoa to Lucca. Presumably it will be the sprinters’ turn again in the Tuscan town.