The final of the fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia 2024 did not please everyone. Instead, the spectacular finish in Andora that saw Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), who started on the Capo Mele and was caught inside the last kilometer, and Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), a splendid winner with a powerful sprint, left some other possible protagonists of the day with a bitter taste in their mouths. Undoubtedly because of the missed result, but also because they judged the closing bars of the stage that saw the Corsa Rosa say goodbye to Piedmont after the first three days of the race as dangerous.

“I’m a bit disappointed, of course: it was possible to win, but it was all very hectic and a bit too dangerous. But that’s okay. It’s part of my job,” Tim Merlier commented to the Eurosport microphones, ”I’m happy to still be alive… With one kilometer to go I saw two riders shoulder to shoulder and there was a risk of a fall over the barriers.

Dangers also on the descent according to the winner of stage 3: “At the top of Capo Mele I was a bit behind. On the descent we were going full throttle and I had to brake twice very sharply because those in front of me looked like they were going to fall. At that moment I was really scared for my life.”

Phil Bauhaus, third of the day, was also particularly critical, criticizing at Eurosport microphones the logistical choices of the organization, which would not have taken into account the safety of the riders: “Honestly, I’m not really a fan of these finishes. Everyone got to the bottom safely, and that’s quest the most important thing. On the descent we were going 80 mph before a sprint, I don’t think that’s necessary. We always take so many risks and sprints are already very dangerous. Such a descent was not necessary. Today I had to go with 58, which I’ve never done before.”