Termoli (Italy) (AFP)

Another victorious sprint for Caleb Ewan: the Australian won for the second time since the start of the Giro on Friday in Termoli, two days after his first success.

Ewan, the pocket rocket from Tasmania (1.67 m for 69 kg), has set himself the goal in 2021 of winning in the three big tours, the Giro, the Tour de France and the Vuelta.

At least one stage ... since he has already kissed the Giro by dominating all his opponents.

The quickest to react when the Colombian Fernando Gaviria tried to anticipate the sprint in the last kilometer, Ewan was more than a length ahead of the Italian Davide Cimolai.

The Belgian Tim Merlier was classified third and his other rivals were clearly left behind, like the Slovakian Peter Sagan (14th), stuck along the barriers.

Big favorite of the day, Ewan scored a clear superiority on Friday to bring his collection of Giro stages to five, the same total as on the Tour de France.

It is true that the small hill located before the red flame of the last kilometer, in the streets of Termoli, represented an ideal springboard for a runner whose explosive qualities have earned him his nickname ("pocket rocket").

"I knew it would be a good end for me," admitted the Tasmanian of Lotto roster.

"It was about being smart and working well with the team. In the last ten kilometers, we always stayed in front. The strategic place was was the first part of the climb, you had to be well placed".

- Valter tastes the rose -

"The conclusion was very difficult, I had to go and tap into myself to win," added the winner of Termoli, however, who had to catch his breath after the finish under the violence of the final effort.

The 181-kilometer stage, thwarted by a southerly headwind, proved of no consequence for the general classification, still led by Attila Valter.

The young Hungarian from the Groupama-FDJ team (22) enjoyed his first day with the pink jersey that he will have to defend on Saturday, on the eve of the tough Campo Felice stage in Abruzzo.

"I felt a different rider with this jersey," said Valter, leader of the Giro, 11 seconds ahead of Belgian Remco Evenepoel and 16 seconds over Colombian Egan Bernal, the top two favorites in the race.

"When people applauded the pink jersey, I had to pinch myself to realize that it was really me."

On Saturday, the 8th stage begins the ascent in the peninsula between Foggia, the southernmost point reached by this 104th edition, and Guardia Sanframondi.

The hilly 170-kilometer route alternates ascents and descents in the Abruzzo massif before the last three kilometers uphill.

The punchers (why not Sagan?) Have an advantage but the riders in the general classification are also affected by this profile, which is conducive to minimal gaps on the line.

© 2021 AFP