No first Maglia Rosa for Tadej Pogacar at the Giro d’Italia 2024. The UAE Team Emirates leader tried and made the difference on the climb, but he was unable to dispose of Jhonatan Narvaez, who then imposed himself in a three-man sprint in which Maximilian Schachmann, who had moved earlier, also overtook the Slovenian. For the 1998 class, however, there remains the satisfaction of having immediately begun to gain on all direct rivals since, in addition to the bonus, at the finish line he can also count on a ten-second lead over the chasing group, where most of the big boys are.
First Italian at the finish line is Nicola Conci (Alpecin-Deceuninck), also on the attack in the finale, who closes in fifth position, resisting by a whisker the return of what remains of the group. Also in the Top 10 was Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain-Victorious), eighth, while Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) finished 11th, just ahead of Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious).

The Stage narrative

Slightly delayed, the start of the first stage immediately set the tone for the day. Indeed, there were numerous sprints needed to make up the day’s attempt, but in the end it was Andrea Pietrobon (Team Polti-Kometa) and Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani), Louis Barré (Arkea-B&B), Nicolas Debeaumarché (Cofidis), Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Wanty) and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Lidl-Trek) who eventually got the green light from the peloton. Despite new attempts, particularly by men EF Education-EasyPost and Astana Qazaqstan, the breakaway was now composed and no one was able to join anymore.

If one might have thought that the peloton might concede space at that point, it soon became clear that UAE Team Emirates’ plans were quite different. Helped only initially by the Ineos Grenadies, thanks to Vegard Stake Laengen the Emirates team kept the breakaways in check, never conceding more than two minutes, in fact even approaching just over a minute on the approach to the first GPM of the day. However, when the British team moves on, the gap widens again, and over the course of the climb it increases to 2’40” at the top of the climb.

In the stages leading up to the first passage to the finish line, the peloton moved closer, thanks in part to the pace of Alpecin – Deceuninck, which took a lightning fast lead to go for the points up for grabs at the first flying finish line, set in Moriondo Torinese. Here, in the breakaway, Fiorelli passed first with a long sprint after which Calmejane seemed to reproach something to the Sicilian. Toward the Superga climb, however, the peloton concedes space again, with only the Norwegian passer-by making the pace. The gap at that point rises to close to three minutes, while a tussle breaks out in front by Calmejane. However, only Ghebreigzabhier remains in the lead, and he climbs first, before being caught by Calmejane, Fiorelli and Pietrobon, while the other two escapees lose too much ground on the climb to have any more hope of coming back.

On the descent comes a new spurt by Calmejane, followed by Ghebreigzabhier alone, with whom he slowly makes up the difference to the two Italians, who were surprised by the action, while Barré and Debeaumarché are meanwhile caught by the group, which after breaking away with a delay of 2’56“ remains at a fixed distance, without forcing more, conceding a maximum of 3’15” in view of the Intergiro. Here the pace picks up again thanks to Alpecin-Deceuninck, but this time the other teams are ready and Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) rules the peloton over Danny Van Poppel (Bora-hansgrohe) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck).

Quickly recovering a minute, the peloton by now headed for the first climb of the San Vito climb, where Fiorelli and Pietrobon were caught. The UAE Team Emirates’ pace increased and the first fast wheels began to break away, while up front Ghebreigzabhier tried in vain to dispose of Calmejane. The two thus passed the finish line together and approached the demanding climb of the Colle della Maddalena together. In the peloton meanwhile, a crash at the back saw Robert Gesink (Visma|Lease a Bike) and Domenico Pozzovivo (VF Group Bardiani CSF Faizanè) end up on the ground, with the Lucanian climber restarting assisted by a companion and succeeding in an incredible comeback against a group now launched uphill.

Thus, while also losing contact with valuable names such as Michael Woods (Israel Premier Tech) and Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers), as well as Romain Bardet (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL), the experienced climber from Lucania manages to get back on a group now composed of less than fifty riders, however, ending up paying the price in the final stages of the ascent, when UAE Team Emirates relaunches further thanks to Felix Grossschartner and Rafal Majka. The Polish rider’s pace hurt many, but he was unable to close in on a suffering but resilient Calmejane, who, after stretching against his companion, was able to sprint ten seconds ahead of a group from which emerged Giulio Pellizzari (VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè), who was able to sprint to second and then pave the way for a second-line action.

Followed by Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers) and Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step), the Komenda phenom quickly caught up with the chasing group, led by a Pellizzari brave in trying to follow Pogacar’s new offensive, who relaunched as soon as he caught up with them. This time only Narvaez remains on the wheel of the most expected man, while Schachmann manages and also arrives on a now helpless Nicola Conci when Pogacar tries to accelerate again, with the breakaway now in sight. Again there is an immediate reaction from Narvaez, who does not concede a meter. The presence of the Ecuadorian rider, who does not even give a change, allows Schachmann to come back in sight of the last kilometer.

Here Pogacar ends up in the grip of the two rivals, who do not even concede a change, remaining fixed on his wheel. From behind, the group of other ranking men in turn manages to get closer, as do the last veterans of the previous counterattack attempt, namely Baudin and Conci, but by now the victory is in the hands of the leading trio. The sprint is decidedly hard-fought and the winner by a whisker is Narvaez, who wins ahead of Schachmann, who tried to move first. Pogacar closes the podium, for whom, in addition to the bonus, comes ten seconds of additional advantage over his direct rivals.

Results Stage 1

1. Jhonatan Narvaez (ECU, INEOS Grenadiers) 3:14:23
2. Max Schachmann (GER, BORA-hansgrohe) +0″
3. Tadej Pogacar (SLO, UAE Team Emirates) +0″
4. Alex Baudin (FRA, Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) +6″
5. Nicola Conci (ITA, Alpecin-Deceuninck) +10″
6. Quinten Hermans (BEL, Alpecin-Deceuninck) +10″
7. Mauri Vansevenant (BEL, Soudal QuickStep) +10″
8. Antonio Tiberi (ITA, Bahrain Victorious) +10″
9. Attila Valter (HUN, Team Visma-Lease A Bike) +10″
10. Geraint Thomas (GBR, INEOS Grenadiers) +10″

General Classification Standings after Stage 1

1. Jhonatan Narvaez (ECU, INEOS Grenadiers) 3:14:13
2. Max Schachmann (GER, BORA-hansgrohe) +3″
3. Tadej Pogacar (SLO, UAE Team Emirates) +6″
4. Alex Baudin (FRA, Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) +16″
5. Damian Caruso (ITA, Bahrain Victorious) +17″
6. Nicola Conci (ITA, Alpecin-Deceuninck) +18″
7. Quinten Hermans (BEL, Alpecin-Deceuninck) +20″
8. Mauri Vansevenant (BEL, Soudal QuickStep) +20″
9. Antonio Tiberi (ITA, Bahrain Victorious) +20″
10. Attila Valter (HUN, Team Visma-Lease A Bike) +20″