Sprint triumh Groves, Leknessund still leader

image: Cor VosKaden Groves wins the sprint in the crash-marred finale of the 5th stage on the Giro d'Italia. The Aussi outguns Jonathan Milan and Mads Pedersen on the line, while Andreas Leknessund stays in the overall race lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 5th stage 2023 Giro

1. Kaden Groves (aus)
2. Jonathan Milan (ita) s.t.
3. Mads Pedersen (den) s.t.
4. Mark Cavendish (gbr) s.t.
5. Nicolas Dalla Valle (ita) s.t.
6. Mirco Maestri (ita) s.t.
7. Filippo Fiorelli (ita) s.t.
8. Andrea Vendrame (ita) s.t.
9. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
10. Niccolò Bonifazio (ita) s.t.

47. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 1.09
52. Jay Vine (aus) + 1.11

GC after stage 5
1. Andreas Leknessund (nor)
2. Remco Evenepoel (bel) + 0.28
3. Aurélien Paret-Peintre (fra) + 0.30
4. João Almeida (por) + 1.00
5. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 1.12
6. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 1.26
7. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) s.t.
8. Toms Skujins (lat) + 1.29
9. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) + 1.30
10. Vincenzo Albanese (ita) + 1.39

Race report
It’s raining cats and dogs when the race kicks into gear. Thibaut Pinot jumps clear with Samuele Zoccarato, Stefano Gandin and Martin Marcellusi. The latter two go down on the slippery roads. Thomas Champion tracks down the two remaining leaders before Gandin also rejoins the front of the race.

Pinot pockets 9 points on Passo Serra. The KOM leader sits up to be reeled in by the peloton.

Evenepoel hits the deck after 20 kilometres when a dog wanders into the bunch. Luckily, the maglia rosa is able to continue the race.

Zoccarato, Gandin and Champion open up a maximum lead of over 3 minutes.

Zoccarato is the last attacker to be reeled in with 6 kilometres remaining, while a crash splits up the peloton. Leader Leknessund, Roglic and Groves are among the riders caught behind the pile-up, but they make it back. Vine does not and he loses time.

Evenepoel goes within the last 3 kilometres before Groves outsprints Milan and Pedersen for the win. Cavendish rounds out the slippery finale with a crash in the last 50 metres. He goes down and crosses the line on his bottom.

Leknessund stays in the overall race lead.

Another interesting read: route 5th stage 2023 Giro.