Giro 2023: Sprint triumph Ackermann, Thomas retains pink, Geoghegan Hart crashes out

image: Cor VosThe longest stage of the Giro d'Italia comes down to a bunch sprint. Pascal Ackermann powers to victory, while Geraint Thomas retains th pink jersey. Tao Geoghegan Hart, third on GC, crashes out with 70 kilometres to go. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 11th stage 2023 Giro

1. Pascal Ackermann (ger) s.t.
2. Jonathan Milan (ita) s.t.
3. Mark Cavendish (gbr) s.t.
4. Mads Pedersen (den) s.t.
5. Stefano Oldani (ita) s.t.
6. Alberto Bettiol (ita) s.t.
7. Marius Mayrhofer (ger) s.t.
8. Davide Ballerini (ita) s.t.
9. Simone Consonni (ita) s.t.
10. Arne Marit (bel) s.t.

136. Pavel Sivakov (fra) 13.56

GC after stage 11
1. Geraint Thomas (gbr)
2. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 0.02
3. João Almeida (por) + 0.22
4. Andreas Leknessund (nor) + 0.35
5. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 1.28
6. Lennard Kämna (ger) + 1.52
7. Eddie Dunbar (irl) + 2.32
8. Thymen Arensman (nld) s.t.
9. Laurens De Plus (bel) + 2.36
10. Aurélien Paret-Peintre (fra) + 2.48

11. Jack Haig (aus) + 2.58
12. Hugh Carthy (gbr) + 3.22
14. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 4.48

Race report
Laurenz Rex initiates the breakaway and Thomas Champion, Diego Pablo Sevilla, Alexander Konychev, Veljko Stojnic and Filippo Magli join him. The six open up a 4 minutes gap. That’s all they get.

The gap has fallen below 2 minutes when Tao Geoghegan Hart hits the deck in the peloton with 70 kilometres to go. He can’t continue the race. Pavel Sivakov goes down also. He is able to continue, but minutes behind the peloton.

Rex goes alone in the descent of the Passo della Castagnola. Vojnic tracks him down, but he is dropped inside the last 20 kilometres. Rex’ solo ends with 5 kilometres to go.

Cavendish and Ackermann go head to head on the straight before Milan appears fast in the dying metres. Yet, it is Ackermann who wins the race with a millimetres lead to take his first big win in years.

Thomas stays in the race lead ahead of Roglic, while Almeida moves up to third after Geoghegan Hart’s abandon.

That night, imaging tests in the hospital revealed that Tao Geoghegan Hart had sustained a fracture of the left hip.

Another interesting read: route 11th stage 2023 Giro.