Termoli (Italy) (AFP)
Second success for Caleb Ewan: the Australian dominated the sprint which concluded the 7th stage of the cycling Tour of Italy on Friday in Termoli (south-east).
Ewan, very comfortable in the final which included a small climb before the last kilometer, clearly ahead of the Italian Davide Cimolai and the Belgian Tim Merlier.
The Hungarian Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) kept the leader's pink jersey after this 181-kilometer plain stage, without affecting the top of the standings.
The race, thwarted by the headwind, was opened for a long time by three riders representing the invited teams (Androni, Bardiani, Eolo-Kometa).
The peloton returned to the trio (Pellaud, Marengo, Christian) 17 kilometers from the finish.
Colombian Fernando Gaviria, 6th on the finish line, tried to anticipate the sprint in the last kilometer but Ewan reacted very quickly to overtake him before the last 200 meters.
The small Australian rider, who is 26 years old, won for the 5th time in the Giro.
He is a candidate this season for a hat-trick in the big tours, winning at least one stage on the Giro, the Tour and the Vuelta.
Italian climber Domenico Pozzovivo, injured in his left arm in a fall the day before, forfeited before leaving Notaresco.
Pozzovivo, the second oldest rider in the Giro peloton (38 years old), took part for the 15th time in the Giro d'Italia, where he took 11th place last year in the final standings.
On Saturday, the 8th stage goes up in the Abruzzo massif between Foggia and Guardia Sanframondi.
The 170-kilometer hilly course alternates ascents and descents before the last three kilometers on a hill favorable to puncheurs.
© 2021 AFP