Merlier pips Milan to Giro third stage, bold Pogacar holds lead

AFP | Fossano, Italy     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Tim Merlier won the third stage of the Giro d'Italia yesterday, pipping Jonathan Milan to the line in a bunch sprint after race leader Tadej Pogacar made a bold attempt to steal victory.

UAE rider Pogacar tried to take his second stage in as many days in the final two kilometres of the 166km run from Novara to Fossano with a surprising burst.

But Merlier claimed his second stage win in the Giro after one in 2021, the same year he  took his sole Tour de France stage.

"It was the hardest victory so far. It was a really hard final. I got to 300 metres and I said 'you need to go'," said Soudal–QuickStep's Merlier.

"I saw Milan was starting his sprint on the left side and I knew I was going to be first or second and I'm happy I won this one."

Pogacar is red-hot favourite to win the Giro at his first attempt and was once again in the thick of the action after storming to victory in Sunday's second stage and only just missing out on Saturday's opener.

The two-time Tour de France champion made his move after following an attack by EF Education–EasyPost's Mikkel Honore.

For a moment it looked like Pogacar and his pink jersey rival Geraint Thomas would battle it out for the win.

But the pair were caught by the peloton near the line before Merlier claimed the tightest of victories over Milan and Intermarche-Wanty rider Biniam Girmay.

"We tried to keep on going but I never believed we could make it to the finish," said Pogacar.

"In the end, I tried but 400 metres to the finish is still a long way to go, way too long."

Briton Thomas, a former Tour de France winner, is 46 seconds off the pace in the general classification.

The Ineos rider is the only one looking capable of challenging Pogacar for overall victory. "We just wanted to stay out of trouble," said an exhausted Thomas.

"Then I saw Honore and Pog go and then I was like 'might as well just go' but jeepers man that was solid, he was kicking my head in.

I was just trying to hold his wheel.