Promised to the sprinters, the 5th stage of the Giro (178 km) finally smiled on the four members of the breakaway, who sprinted on Wednesday in the streets of Lucca.
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The fifth stage of the Giro, contested between Genoa and Lucca (178 km), was a priori intended for sprinters, like the two previous ones. The grueling Passo del Bracco (15.3 km at 4%), at the start of the route, could however benefit the backpackers to form a strong breakaway. But it was ultimately in the wake of an intermediate sprint 75 km from the line that the four men of the day escaped, Wednesday May 8.
Four men including two French: Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) and Enzo Paleni (Groupama FDJ). Behind, the teams of sprinters led the pursuit, like the Alpecin-Deceuninck team, to make up for the one minute gap on the breakaways. But the understanding between the four leading men was perfect. As a fox, Andrea Pietrobon (Polti Kometa) tried to leave the group behind under the red flame, after having feigned the pump in the last kilometers. But the Italian was caught a few meters from the line, crossed first by Benjamin Thomas. The Cofidis track rider signs the first French stage victory in this 2024 Giro, and the first success for his team this season.
