Stronger than the rain and the crashes. Igor Arrieta and Afonso Eulálio were the absolute protagonists of the fifth stage of the Giro d'Italia: at the conclusion of the 203 kilometers that today brought the peloton from Praia a Mare to Potenza, the UAE Team Emirates rider beat the Bahrain - Victorious athlete in a sprint with whom he had animated fifty kilometers of today's stage. The 23-year-old Spaniard claimed his second professional victory while the Portuguese rider with today's second place takes the lead in the general classification and wears the pink jersey with which he will depart tomorrow from Paestum. Behind the two breakaway leaders, Thomas Silva (XDS Astana Team) finished third, Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar Team) fourth, Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team) fifth, and Gianmarco Garofoli (Soudal Quick-Step) who finished sixth. Also in the top-10 were Raccagni Noviero (Soudal Quick-Step) and Ludovico Crescioli (Team Polti VisitMalta).
THE STAGE - The first twenty kilometers of racing were characterized, in addition to heavy rain, by many attacks. The continuous changes of pace by the peloton and the first climbs towards Prestieri made a selection, breaking up the pack. Up front, Thomas Silva (XDS Astana Team) and Einer Rubio (Movistar Team) were reported to be very active, taking a slight advantage. The pair at the front was then caught by Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain – Victorious).
At the Presteri climb, they passed in order Rubio, Silva and Eulalio followed shortly after by Campenaerts and Garofoli. On the descent, a quintet formed at the head of the stage and shortly after new breakaway riders swelled the leading group.
Around the fortieth kilometer, a dozen athletes were in the breakaway: Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain - Victorious), Manuele Tarozzi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber), Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar Team), Einer Rubio (Movistar Team), Ben Turner (Netcompany INEOS), Gianmarco Garofoli (Soudal Quick-Step), Victor Campenaerts (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates - XRG), Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates - XRG), Martin Tjøtta (Uno-X Mobility), Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team), Thomas Silva (XDS Astana Team).
Chasing the breakaway riders solo was Darren Rafferty (EF Education – EasyPost). After many kilometers of chasing, the young Irishman managed to complete his "hunt" by rejoining the leading group: from the moment of reunion, there were therefore thirteen men at the front.
In the flat section towards the second climb of the day, the peloton was led by Lidl Trek and in particular by Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier, then, approaching Viggiano and at the foot of the climb, it was the Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe riders. The gap thus decreased and on the slopes towards Montagna Grande di Viggiano, the peloton recovered some of the early breakaway riders. The harmony among the attackers diminished and in view of the climb, Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) and Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain - Victorious) changed pace, cresting the climb in order ahead of Gianmarco Garofoli.
FINISHING ORDER
1 Arrieta Igor UAE Team Emirates - XRG 05:07:51
2 Eulálio Afonso Bahrain - Victorious 00:02
3 Silva Guillermo Thomas XDS Astana Team 00:51
4 Milesi Lorenzo Movistar Team 01:29
5 Scaroni Christian XDS Astana Team 01:30
6 Garofoli Gianmarco Soudal Quick-Step ,,
7 Bouwman Koen Team Jayco AlUla 03:11
8 Kulset Johannes Uno-X Mobility 03:13
9 Raccagni Noviero Andrea Soudal Quick-Step 03:29
10 Crescioli Ludovico Team Polti VisitMalta 04:42
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