Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) launched from a LONG way back to grab victory on a messy Stage 5 of the 2021 Giro d’Italia. The Aussie pocket rocket zoomed past his rivals like a hot knife through butter, condemning Giacomo Nizzolo (Qhubeka Assos) to yet another second place with Cofidis’ Elia Viviani rounding out the podium. Alessandro De Marchi (Israel Start Up Nation) retains the pink jersey but a chaotic, crash-marred finale saw UAE-Emirates’ Joe Dombrowski lose over 8 minutes, Pavel Sivakov (INEOS-Grenadiers) trail in 13 minutes down and later withdraw, and Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious) unable to finish the stage at all.
The Sprint Finish
Just when I was beginning to wonder if Caleb Ewan would be able to take a stage, out he pops with a classic pocket rocket victory. The Aussie speedster used all his manoeuvrability to weave through the chaos and keep himself in contention, but when he found his gap, he FLEW. There are few who have that top end speed, and today it all played perfectly for the pocket rocket.
The overhead shot shows Nizzolo‘s charge on the left, he really must of thought he had his elusive win. Ewan is almost out of shot, tucked in on the left hand barrier, but once he found his space – ZOWIE!!!!
Ewan somehow navigating that tight space by the barrier, just as Merlier had a problem. Great sprint #Giro pic.twitter.com/WZDZl1QonK
— Daniel Ostanek (@LVCKV) May 12, 2021
Let’s hear from the victor.
🎙️ @CalebEwan: "It's a relief because my goal this year is to win at least one stage in all three Grand Tours. There was pressure on me and the team to do a good job today. Now that I have won a stage I think I'll be hungry for more."
Powered by @eolo_it #Giro pic.twitter.com/4PW4P9kUX7
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 12, 2021
Tim Merlier (Alpecin Fenix) lost the maglia ciclamino to Giacomo Nizzolo after a twitchy moment on the run to the line.
🇮🇹 #Giro
🗨️ "Hats off to the team for their work. I was in perfect position, but my chain fell off after a manoeuvre from another rider and so I couldn't do my sprint. It's a shame because I felt really good." – @MerlierTim pic.twitter.com/swCsTganov
— Alpecin-Fenix Cycling Team (@AlpecinFenix) May 12, 2021
The Chaos
The pan-flat profile always marked this stage as one for the sprinters, however one look at the roadbook showed the risk of a high speed, highly technical and supremely sketchy final 15km. Unfortunately it also ended the race hopes for many GC riders. No cycling fan likes to watch and report on this.
Caught the last 10km and wow, total chaos. A nothing day, totally straight roads, then chaotic, dangerous turns at the sharp end of the race 🤷♀️Poor Mikel Landa out and Sivakov too, huge shame #Giro2021
— Katy M, Bike Edition (@writebikerepeat) May 12, 2021
Pavel Sivakov (INEOS-Grenadiers) hit the tarmac after tangling with a tree when a peloton, intent on using every inch of road, left him with no room to manoeuvre.
Ouch 🤕
Ineos Grenadiers' Pavel Sivakov takes a tumble after he is bundled into a tree by the peloton. pic.twitter.com/X3dLxJA8XN
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 12, 2021
The young rider got back on his bike but it was a slow and painful ride to the finish over thirteen minutes behind the stage winner. He was taken straight to hospital and the team later announced he would withdraw from the race
Unfortunately, @PavelSivakov has been forced to withdraw from the Giro d'Italia after injuring his shoulder in a crash on today's stage.
All the best for a speedy recovery Pavel! 👊 pic.twitter.com/1ZpuX5ptu5
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) May 12, 2021
A larger crash around a traffic island in the last 5km involved many riders and a race marshall. King of the Mountains and yesterday’s stage winner Joe Dombrowski was able to remount and finish but was taken straight to hospital after the stage. All this on his birthday too – a shit day of #unluck.
🇮🇹 #Giro Unfortunately @JoeDombro was involved in a collision in the final of today’s stage. Thankfully Joe was able to finish but has been taken to hospital for scans.
Further updates to follow.#UAETeamEmirates #RideaTogether pic.twitter.com/6BkHTjdwT3
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) May 12, 2021
The same crash left Mikel Landa unable to finish the stage and was taken straight to hospital. The sight of the four teammates who had waited for him riding to the finish without the Basque was heart-breaking.
Absolutely gutted for Mikel Landa. This was arguably his best shot at winning a Grand Tour and he looked to be on flying form. #Giro104
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) May 12, 2021
This photo killed me. 😭💔 Come back strong, Mikel. 🙏 #Giro pic.twitter.com/ln5kx4hD3t
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) May 12, 2021
Conversations around stage finishes like this, how a race can manage the expectations and safety of both GC contenders and sprinters will rumble on again. Both of these crashes happened outside the 3km rule, that is in place on sprint stages and the riders involved all lost time, and worse. There is surely a case to be made for extending that arbitrary boundary.
I agree totally https://t.co/4fQqN1Gxtc
— Andrew James (@badbrainAJ) May 12, 2021
Bernie Eisel making a good point there that the time cut off should be more than 3k on a stage like that and let the GC guys and their minders get out the way earlier.
— Euan (@euan____) May 12, 2021
Perhaps wherever a race organiser places that boundary, there will always be stress in the lead up to it. Here’s what race leader Alessandro De Marchi has to say. [Aside…I LOVE that #CapsNotHat]
"It was a crazy circus…too dangerous."
GC leader Alessandro De Marchi sent his best wishes to those who crashed during an incident-packed finish to Stage 5. pic.twitter.com/f5L0uTSWXL
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 12, 2021
Final word from King Kelly about the madness of the run to the line. I can’t imagine having that amount of instructions shouted at me.
"Everybody is being pushed so much and not backing off, there are going to be crashes."@SeanKellyCC looks back on an incident-packed finish to Stage 5 and whether anyone was at fault. pic.twitter.com/remn2zF8Bg
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 12, 2021
Results
Stage 5 Top 5
👍 @CalebEwan 🇦🇺#Giro pic.twitter.com/SJu9N6asHA
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 12, 2021
1 Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) 4:07:01
2 Giacomo Nizzolo (Qhubeka Assos) same time
3 Elia Viviani (Cofidis) s/t
4 Peter Sagan (BORA-hansgrohe) s/t
5 Fernando Gaviria (UAE-Team Emirates) s/t
GC Top 10
1 Alessandro De Marchi (Israel Start Up Nation) 17:57:45
2 Louis Veraeke (Alpecin-Fenix) +0:42
3 Nelson Oliviera (Movistar) +0:48
4 Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) +1:00
5 Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) +1:15
6 Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana) +1:24
7 Remco Evenepoel (QuickStep) +1:28
8 Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-Nippo) +1:37
9 Hugh Carthy (EF Education-Nippo) +1:38
10 Egan Bernal (INEOS-Grenadiers) +1.39
All the jerseys
🇮🇹 #Giro104
Jerseys after Stage 5💗🏆 Alessandro De Marchi 🇮🇹
💜💨 Giacomo Nizzolo 🇮🇹
💙⛰️ Joe Dombrowski 🇺🇸
🤍👶 Attila Valter 🇭🇺 pic.twitter.com/hPvTgBWbeU— pro cycling trumps (@procycletrumps) May 12, 2021
Leader’s jersey Alessandro De Marchi (Israel Start Up Nation)
Points jersey Giacomo Nizzolo (Qhubeka Assos)
King of the Mountains Joe Dombrowski (UAE -Team Emirates)
Best Young Rider Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ)
For full race reviews, go to cyclingnews.
Official race website: Giro d’Italia