Cycling: The Shark of Messina comes home. On the fifth stage of the Giro d'Italia, riders reach Messina, home of Vincenzo Nibali. But the profile speaks more for a decision in the sprint.
The mountain comes too soon
In Catania, the pros will set off for the fifth Giro stage tomorrow. There is a distance of 174 kilometers to get to Messina, and the first half of the race is really tough. 75 kilometers after the start, the riders reach the summit of Portella Mandrazzi, a second category mountain. Actually, so many mountain stages begin. But because it's only downhill and flat to the finish after that, a mass sprint is to be expected despite this challenge. A stage win by Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) is therefore rather unlikely. The now 37-year-old Italian is already past his best days. He won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana once each. This makes him one of the few riders to have won every Grand Tour at least once.
Velomotion prognosis: Cavendish was too confident
There was a mass sprint at this year's Giro d'Italia. This one came on Mark Cavendish – and absolutely sovereign. Actually, it's a bit boring to just bet on the winner of the previous sprint now, but not doing it would just be wrong. Because Mark Cavendish's victory not only showed us once again that he is with Michael Morkov and Co. has the best drivers in the world at his side, but also that the Brit has the highest top speed. The form is good, the team is world class and he has the self-confidence anyway. In short: Cav will be hard to beat. If anyone can be trusted, it's someone fit caleb ewan The Australian has yet to digest his fall at the start of the tour. And Arnaud Demare and Fernando Gaviria are fast, but still had no chance against a Cav in the wind.
☆☆☆ Mark Cavendish (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl)
☆☆ Caleb Ewan (Lotto – Soudal), Arnaud Démare (Groupama – FDJ)
☆ Fernando Gaviria (UAE), Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain – Victorious), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux)