Giro d'Italia 2024 - 21st stage: Merlier wins sprint in Rome - Pogacar overall winner
Thomas Huber
· 26.05.2024
As expected, there was a bunch sprint on the 21st and final stage of the Giro d'Italia 2024. This was once again decided between the two outstanding sprinters of the Tour of Italy: Tim Merlier (Soudal - Quick Step) attacked early after the final right-hand bend, surprising his rivals and also overtaking his big rival Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek). However, the Italian's counterattack came too late, so that the Belgian clearly won ahead of Milan. Behind the two sprint dominators, third place went to Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Tim Merlier thus celebrates his third stage win at the Giro 2024.
Milan drama ends in second place
Nine kilometres before the finish, Jonathan Milan, the man in the points jersey and the best sprinter of the Giro so far, had a puncture. He pulled over to the side of the road and had to wait until his team car provided him with a replacement race bike. Shortly before the finish, he had to make up almost a minute on the fast peloton. With a last-minute show of strength, Milan was led to the front, where he was able to join the bunch sprint in time. In the end, he was unable to follow Merlier's attack in time, but still managed to snatch second place.
"It was very hectic at the end and very difficult to position myself properly. I had a few tricks on the cobbles that paid off. For me as a sprinter, it's a great win today." - Day winner Tim Merlier in the winner's interview
Pogacar wins Giro with a lead of almost ten minutes
There were no shifts in the overall standings after the bunch sprint and just one harmless crash. The unstoppable Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) won the Giro d'Italia 2024 with an incredible performance. The Slovenian took a total of six stage wins, finishing almost ten minutes ahead of second-placed Daniel Felipe Martinez (Bora-Hansgrohe) in the overall standings. The Tour of Italy was a demonstration of Tadej Pogacar's strength.
"I am speechless. It's difficult to describe this moment. The pink jersey is really something special. A crazy experience for me." - Overall winner Tadej Pogacar in an official interview
Giro d'Italia 2024: Results - the top 10 of stage 21
- Tim Merlier (Soudal - Quick Step) 2:51:50
- Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) +0:00
- Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +0:00
- Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) +0:00
- Tim van Dijke (Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:00
- Stanislaw Aniolkowski (Cofidis) +0:00
- Alberto Dainese (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +0:00
- Giovanni Lonardi (Polti-Kometa) +0:00
- Caleb Ewan (Team Jayco-AlUla) +0:00
- Donavan Grondin (Areka-B&B Hotels) +0:00
The overall standings of the Giro d'Italia 2024
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) 79:14:03
- Daniel Felipe Martinez (Bora-Hansgrohe) +9:56
- Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) +10:24
- Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +12:07
- Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain-Victorious) +12:49
- Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) +14:31
- One Rubio (Movistar) +15:52
- Jan Hirt (Soudal - Quick Step) +18:05
- Romain Bardet (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) +20:32
- Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +21:11
How the 21st stage of the Giro d'Italia 2024 went
After the start of the race in Rome, several teams and riders had time to celebrate: Among others, the teams around the jersey holders were allowed to present themselves together in front of the rest of the peloton: UAE Team Emirates with overall winner and mountain king Tadej Pogacar as the centre of attention, Lidl-Trek with Jonathan Milan, the winner of the points classification, Bahrain-Victorious with the best young pro Antonio Tiberi and the winner of the team classification Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale rode one after the other in a row at the front and beamed with joy.
Race picks up speed
After the first finish on the final circuit, the race became more serious. The sprinters took command around 75 kilometres before the finish: Lidl-Trek in particular rode a lot in the wind, but Alpecin-Deceuninck and Soudal - Quick Step were also at the front of the peloton. Meanwhile, four riders were able to break away: Ewen Costiou (Arkea-B&B Hotels), Alex Baudin (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Mikkel Frölich Honore (EF Education-EasyPost) and Martin Marcellusi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF - Faizane).
The maximum lead of the leading quartet was almost 40 seconds. The sprinter teams kept the escapees on a tight leash. The four riders were therefore not allowed to get their hopes up too high. It was only a matter of time before the escapees were caught again.
Runaways are caught up
After 13 kilometres, the leading group was swallowed up by the peloton. Everything was pointing towards a bunch sprint. Suddenly, however, one of the favourites to win the day, Jonathan Milan, had to stop and change bikes due to a technical defect. The Italian came back into the peloton just in time to take part in the bunch sprint.
As there were no serious attacks just before the finish, there was a bunch sprint. This was clearly won by Tim Merlier ahead of Jonathan Milan and Kaden Groves. German riders were unable to have a say in the decision.
