Cycling: Olav Kooij clinched his stage win at the Giro d'Italia. The Dutchman won the ninth stage in Naples in a mass sprint ahead of Jonathan Milan. With this, Kooij celebrates his first daily victory on a Grand Tour. This time leader Tadej Pogacar appeared as a sprint driver.
Kooij sprints to stage victory in Naples
An exciting finale in Naples ends with a stage win Olav Kooij (Visma – Lease a Bike) is over. The Dutchman sprints ahead of a decimated peloton jonathan milan (Lidl – Trek) and Sebastián Molano (UAE). The fact that there was still a mass sprint after 214 kilometers is, above all, leader's credit Tadej pogacar (UAE). The Slovenian pushed the pace in the peloton for his teammate in the last kilometer and thus ensured that Jonathan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers) could still be caught. The Ecuadorian champion attacked over the last hill and almost looked like the sure winner.
Giro d'Italia: Teams shy away from risk
Actually, the ninth stage of the Giro d'Italia would have been made for an early, large breakaway group. But what does it say? The drivers make the race! And today – with one exception – no team was interested in an escape group. With Andrea Pietrobon (Polti – Kometa) and Mirco Maestri (Polti – Kometa) only two drivers dared to go on the offensive. As a spectator, you ask yourself what all the other teams are waiting for that don't have a GC driver or a top sprinter in their own ranks. There in the high mountains against someone who is always hungry Tadej pogacar (UAE) there is hardly anything to be gained, it is precisely stages like today's that should actually be interesting for all other teams. There was no start on day nine of the Giro d'Italia alexey lutsenko (Astana).
Lidl – Trek takes responsibility
Has 27 kilometers to go Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal – Quick-Step) opened the final. The Frenchman moved Nicola Conci (Alpecin – Deceuninck), Ewen Costiou (Arkea – B&B Hotels), Lewis Askey (Groupama – FDJ) and Kevin Marks (dsm-unternehmenich PostNL). In the ever-shrinking peloton, more and more sprinters were having trouble keeping up with the pace. Tim Merlier (Soudal – Quick Step) and Fabio Jacobsen (dsm-unternehmenich PostNL) have already had to have it demolished. But jonathan milan (Lidl – Trek) also seemed to feel good today and had the confidence to survive this very difficult and hilly finale. His team kept the tempo high and – with the exception of Alaphilippe – was able to contain the newly formed escape group. The experienced Frenchman held on well until further attacks were launched from the field with 8 kilometers to go.
Narvaez sniffs his second stage win
Again it was Jonathan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers), who made the final even more difficult with an attack. The Ecuadorian champion was able to gain a lead of a few meters over the last hill. Behind them, the remaining sprinters and their helpers tried to organize themselves again. Narvaez was strong, but was caught in the home stretch by none other than Tadej pogacar (UAE), the one for his teammate Sebastián Molano (UAE) started the sprint. In the end, however, it settles Olav Kooij (Visma – Lease a Bike). jonathan milan (Lidl – Trek).
| Geen Jhonatan Narváez, geen Jonathan Milan! No, it's Olav Kooij who wins! This is the first stage in a big roundabout! #GirodItalia
Koers bought it on discovery+ pic.twitter.com/FIjgmOqfBv
— Eurosport Nederland (@Eurosport_NL) May 12, 2024