Bike racing would be pretty dull if we could accurately predict exactly how races were going to unfold. Thankfully, we can’t, and the opening stages of this year’s Giro d’Italia have been a case in point.
What was supposed to be a bunch sprint on stage 1 turned into a superb solo victory for Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) with the Austrian’s lead-out effort becoming a late solo move. Stage 3 was defined by a late surge from QuickStep Floors that split the bunch in the crosswinds and set Fernando Gaviria up for victory. And then on stage 4, a stage that all expected to go the way of the GC men, the breakaway somehow survived. Or at least Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) did, by less than 20 seconds.
It’s all made for an exciting first four days of the 100th Giro d’Italia, with four different stage winners and four different overall leaders. We hope you enjoy the following gallery, showcasing some of the memorable moments from stages 1 to 4.
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- Astana opted not to replace the fallen Michele Scarponi in its line-up. The team started the Giro with eight riders.
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- Former teammates Vincenzo Nibali (left) and Fabio Aru (right) share a moment on the first day of the Giro. The first three days of the race were held on Sardinia, Aru’s homeland, but the Astana rider is injured and not taking part.
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- Perfect weather and stunning scenery made for a memorable start to the Giro.
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- A late attack on narrow, winding roads saw Lukas Pöstlberger become the first Austrian to win a stage at the Giro.
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- Pöstlberger’s win gave him the honour of wearing the maglia rosa on stage 2.
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- A bunch sprint was predicted for stage 2 as well, and unlike stage 1, it actually came about.
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- Andre Greipel took the stage win, while Caleb Ewan (purple jersey, far right) missed his chance after pulling his cleat out of his pedal. Greipel’s win was his seventh at the Giro d’Italia …
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- … and earned him his first maglia rosa.
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- Stage 3 was the final on Sardinia and was expected to end in another sprint.
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- Overall leader Andre Greipel was well looked after by his Lotto Soudal team …
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- … but when the race reached the coast, and the crosswinds came into play, QuickStepFloors split the peloton, leaving a group of around 10 out front.
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- Fernando Gaviria capitalised on his teammates’ hard work, to take the sprint victory from a small group.
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- Three stages, three different stage winners, three different wearers of the maglia rosa.
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- As the race headed to Sicily for stage 4, Gaviria enjoyed some good support as race leader …
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- … but with two big climbs on the menu, the Colombian sprinter’s days in pink would be numbered.
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- Mt. Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano, would play host to the stage finish.
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- Jan Polanc was part of a four-rider breakaway that got clear after just 2km. He was the strongest of the four and forged on alone up the final climb.
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- Strong headwinds on the climb saw the peloton of GC contenders form up into an echelon of sorts — a slightly strange look on a big climb.
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- Sicilian Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida), one of the pre-race favourites, tested his legs on Mt. Etna but wasn’t able to get away.
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- Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb), too, tried his hand at a solo escape, but it didn’t stick.
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- In the end, Polanc was able to hold on, winning the stage by 19 seconds over Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha), who got away from his GC rivals late in proceedings. Polanc’s win adds to a similar victory from the breakaway on the uphill finish to Abetone at the 2015 Giro.
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- Geraint Thomas (Sky) crossed the line in third, behind Zakarin …
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- … but it was Bob Jungels (QuickStep Floors) that moved into the overall lead by finishing seventh. Jungels led the Giro for three stages last year and will be hoping to equal or better that achievement this time around.
