Giro 2017: Pöstlberger bests sprinters to take maglia rosa

The 100th edition of the Giro d'Italia opens with a sprint stage from Alghero to Olbia. That is, in theory. The race doesn't come down to a bunch sprint as Pöstlberger soloes to victory ahead of the sprinting peloton. Ewan comes in second. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage 2017 Giro d’Italia

1. Lukas Pöstlberger (aut)
2. Caleb Ewan (aus) s.t.
3. André Greipel (ger) s.t.
4. Giacomo Nizzolo (ita) s.t.
5. Sacha Modolo (ita) s.t.
6. Jan Bárta (cze) s.t.
7. Jasper Stuyven (bel) s.t.
8. Ryan Gibbon (rsa) s.t.
9. Sam Bennett (irl) s.t.
10. Phil Bauhaus (ger) s.t.

GC after 1st stage
1. Lukas Pöstlberger (aut)
2. Caleb Ewan (aus) + 0.04
3. André Greipel (ger) + 0.06
4. Pavel Brutt (rus) + 0.08
5. Giacomo Nizzolo (ita) + 0.10
6. Sacha Modolo (ita) s.t.
7. Kristian Sbaragli (ita) s.t.
8. Jasper Stuyven (bel) s.t.
9. Ryan Gibbon (rsa) s.t.
10. Sam Bennett (irl) s.t.

16. Bob Jungels (lux) s.t.
19. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
21. Rui Costa (por) s.t.
24. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) s.t.
26. Nairo Quintana (COl)
28. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
29. Tom Dumoulin (nld) s.t.
31. Rohan Dennis (aus) s.t.
40. Tejay van Garderen (usa) s.t.
45. Mikel Landa (ita) s.t.
50. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
52. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.
53. Thibaut Pinot (fra) s.t.
55. Andray Amador (ecu) s.t.
72. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.23
144. Sebastien Reichenbach (swi) + 1.19

Race report
Mirco Maestri, Marcin Bialoblocki, Pavel Brutt, Eugert Zhupa, Daniel Teklehaimanot and Cesare Benedetti are the first attackers in the Giro. They race to a maximum lead of 7 minutes.

Benedetti takes the KOM in Multeddu ahead of Zhupa. Same story in Trinità d’Agultu after Maestri has been dropped on the lower flanks. Bialoblocki can’t follow the pace on the last climb of the day, to San Pantaleo. Once again, Benedetti is the first to crest.

The front group is caught with 4 kms remaining. The finale runs on narrow and twisting roads, resulting in chaos. Lukas Pöstlberger is pushing so hard in the lead-out for Sam Bennett that he forces a gap. When he looks over his shoulder he realises he is off for glory. He puts his head down to power to the maglia rosa.

Overall contender Steven Kruijswijk gets stuck behind a split in the peloton and is 13 seconds down on his rivals.

Read about the route of the 1st stage in the 2017 Giro.