Giro d’Italia 2024 Stage Report: Day one of the 2024 Giro d’Italia was one of surprises. The expected break of the day was reeled in, in the finale and then the UAE Team Emirates put the pressure on and we saw some big names in trouble. On the final climb, Tadej Pogačar attacked from the peloton and pulled in the group in front, but Jhonatan Narváez managed to hold the Slovenian on the descent and win the sprint for the first stage and the first pink jersey. Maximilian Schachmann took second place ahead of Tadej Pogačar in third.
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Jhonatan Narvaez took the win and pink ahead of Maximilian Schachmann and Tadej Pogacar
The opening stage around Turin offered opportunities for the puncheur and climbers. The first stage was short at 140 kilometres, but has a sting in the tail that UAE Team Emirates and Tadej Pogačar made the most of, but the Slovenian missed out in the final sprint.
The trophy they are racing for – Trofeo Senza Fine
La Grande Partenza is in Venaria Reale, in the province of Turin. The first stage finishes in the city of Juventus and Torino football clubs and short at only 143 kilometres. There are 3 categorised climbs, with a total of 1,850 metres of climbing. The first climb is the Cat.4 Berzano Di San Pietro (4.4km at 4.1%). Next is the famous climb of the Superga (4.7km at 9.2%). At 26 kilometres from the finish is the toughest climb of the day, the Colle Maddalena (6.1km at 7.4%). Then at the finish there is the San Vito, which is 1.4 kilometres, with and an average of 9.4% gradient. Could Tadej Pogačar go into pink this early?
The first attack attempts were shut down, but then a six man group were given the green light by the peloton. Andrea Pietrobon (Polti-Kometa) and Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani), Louis Barré (Arkea-B&B), Nicolas Debeaumarché (Cofidis) and Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Wanty) and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Lidl-Trek) managed to take a lead of 2 minutes.
The top favourite for the 2024 Giro d’Italia – Tadej Pogačar
In the peloton it was the team of top favourite, Tadej Pogačar, who took control. Led by the strong Norwegian Vegard Stake Laengen, UAE kept the break within catching distance. The lead of the six never really exceeded two minutes and it was only a matter of when they would be caught. The front riders were not left to fight for the first KOM of the 2024 Giro.
The riders leave the start in Venaria Reale
On the first climb to Berzano Di San Pietro (4.4km at 4.1%), there was a lot of fighting for the mountain points. Pietrobon tried to surprise the others with an early jump, but was passed by Fiorelli well before the top. The fast Italian managed to take the 3 KOM points. Barré 2 points and Ghebreigzabhier took the last 1. After the first climb, Fiorelli also took the first intermediate sprint. Behind; Alpecin-Deceuninck put four men on the front to put their sprinter Kaden Groves into position. The Australian was the first of the peloton to cross the line to show his interest in the points jersey. Next up was the climb of the Superga (8km at 4.3%).
The first break of the 2024 Giro d’Italia
On the steeper slopes of the climb, Calmejane attacked, but the Frenchman was quickly put in his place by Ghebreigzabhier. The Eritrean was the best climber in the leading group. The Lidl-Trek rider quickly built up a nice lead over Calmejane, Fiorelli and Pietrobon, the three first pursuers. Barré and Debeaumarché had been dropped. Ghebreigzabhier was the first to reach the summit of the Superga. On the descent, the Eritrean was joined by Calmejane and the two headed towards the first passage of the steep climb of San Vito. Not much happened there, but in the run-up to the toughest climb of the day, the Colle Maddalena, the nervousness in the peloton increased. The pace was considerably increased by the men of UAE Team Emirates. This was necessary, as the difference to the leaders had increased to nearly 3 minutes.
Vegard Stake Laengen chasing for UAE Team Emirates
Just before the foot of the Colle Maddalena, there was a crash in the peloton. Robert Gesink and Domenico Pozzovivo, the leader of VF Group-Bardiani and in his last Giro, were both held up. This was a very bad moment as UAE Team Emirates had put the pressure on at the front. Mikkel Bjerg and Felix Großschartner managed to thin things out. The hard pace of Bjerg in particular claimed several victims: Valentin Paret-Peintre was dropped early, but more surprisingly was Thymen Arensman. The co-leader of INEOS Grenadiers and last year’s 6th overall was clearly in trouble. Arensman was not the only one as Romain Bardet and Luke Plapp were also dropped. Pozzovivo managed to rejoin at that point.
The break included Andrea Pietrobon (Polti Kometa), Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Wanty), Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane), Louis Barre (Arkea-B&B Hotels), Nicolas Debeaumarché (Cofidis) and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Lidl-Trek)
Lilian Calmejane and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier were the last two of the break left out front
At the front of the race, Calmejane had left Ghebreigzabhier and was the first to the top of the Colle Maddalena, to take the first KOM jersey, although he was only just in front of the chasers. However, Calmejane took time on the descent. UAE Team Emirates had left Pogacar virtually alone. The Slovenian only had Rafal Majka and so eight riders jumped away: Nicola Conci, Maximilian Schachmann, Alex Baudin, Mikkel Honoré, Alessandro De Marchi, Giulio Pellizzari and Damiano Caruso crossed to the lone leader Calmejane. Pogacar was thus forced to chase.
Last man standing form the break – Lilian Calmejane
All was not lost for the Slovenian, as the difference between the two groups was not too big. Seven kilometres from the finish, the lead of the eight at the front was only 20 seconds. The co-operation in the front group was also not good. Conci decided to jump away from the leaders. The Italian of Alpecin-Deceuninck made a nice gap and was the first to start the final climb of the San Vito. On this steep ramp of more than 9%, the race was split. Pogacar had to do everything he could to get back to the front of the race. The big favourite threw everything into his climb to pass everyone, including Conci. One rider managed to follow. Jhonatan Narváez managed to hold the Slovenian’s rear wheel and they started the descent of the San Vito together.
Tadej Pogačar sliced through to the front, but missed the win
Schachmannn also managed to join Pogačar and Schachmann just after the top and so there would be a final sprint with three riders. Pogačar was up against the possibly faster Narváez in the sprint. The Ecuadorian responded to Pogacar’s early jump and managed to stay with the Slovenian and come past before the line. This was his second Giro stage victory and he also took the first pink jersey. Schachmann was second, Pogacar finished third. Baudin was fourth, Conci won the sprint for fifth place, ahead of Belgians: Quinten Hermans and Mauri Vansevenant. This group also included Antonio Tiberi, Geraint Thomas, Caruso, Daniel Felipe Martínez, Cian Uijtdebroeks and Ben O’Connor.
A stunning sprint from Jhonatan Narváez
Stage winner and Maglia Rosa, Jhonatan Narvaez (INEOS Grenadiers): “It’s a great feeling. We had planned this with the team but I had to follow Pogacar and it still hurts me now. He went really hard but at the end I made it. In the sprint, I think he went too long. It’s amazing. We don’t have many opportunities in a Grand Tour to win a stage. Especially this one. It puts me in the Maglia Rosa. I had dreamt of this jersey. It’s been very difficult to get it.”
First pink jersey of 2024 goes to Jhonatan Narvaez
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Giro d’Italia Stage 1 Result:
1. Jhonatan Narváez (Ecu) INEOS Grenadiers in 3:14:23
2. Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) BORA-hansgrohe
3. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
4. Alex Baudin (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale at 0:06
5. Nicola Conci (Ita) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:10
6. Quinten Hermans (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
7. Mauri Vansevenant (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step
8. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious
9. Attila Valter (Hun) Visma | Lease a Bike
10. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers.
Giro d’Italia Overall After Stage 1:
1. Jhonatan Narváez (Ecu) INEOS Grenadiers in 3:14:13
2. Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) BORA-hansgrohe at 0:03
3. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates at 0:06
4. Alex Baudin (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale at 0:16
5. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious at 0:17
6. Nicola Conci Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:18
7. Quinten Hermans (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:20
8. Mauri Vansevenant (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step
9. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious
10. Attila Valter (Hun) Visma | Lease a Bike.
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