Giro d`Italia 2024: Tadej Pogacar wins stage 2 despite crash - Lipowitz with top result

The second stage of the Giro d`Italia 2024 led from San Francesco al Campo 161 kilometres to the Santuario di Oropa (Biella). Right from the sharp start, an initial group of six did not hesitate for long and rode at speed to open up a small lead over the peloton. Over the course of the race, the Italian group, which at this point only had five riders, was able to extend its lead and at one point was around 4:30 minutes ahead of the peloton. Little happened for a long time until Andrea Piccolo (EF Education EasyPost) broke away from the breakaway group and went off on his own to chase points in the mountain classifications.

The breakaway riders were gradually caught by the peloton until the peloton also caught up with Andrea Piccolo, who had been far ahead for a long time, around 6.5 kilometres before the finish. Top favourite Tadej Pogacar, who crashed during the decisive phase of the race, was quickly able to catch up with his team, who put him in position for his attack. With around 4.5 kilometres to go, the Slovenian broke away from the peloton, initially pulling a chasing group with him, but they were unable to catch him, and won the first classic uphill finish, which had not been seen so early in the Giro since 1989. Daniel Felipe Martinez (Bora-Hansgrohe) finished second behind Pogacar, while his German team-mate Florian Lipowitz finished fifth.

"Today is a dream come true, an extraordinary joy. After winning the Vuelta and the Tour, I was able to complete the circle and be successful in all the Grand Tours. Not many people manage that. I didn't panic after the crash, the team quickly got me back on my feet. After Rafal Majka's last sprint, I accelerated and pulled out a good lead. I had hoped to win the Maglia Rosa, now I can rest for a few days," said Tadej Pogacar after his victory in stage 2.

Giro d`Italia 2024: Results - the top 10 of stage 2

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) 3:54:20
2. Daniel Felipe Martinez (Bora-Hansgrohe) +0:27
3. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) +0:27
4. Lorenzo Fortunato (Astana Qazaqstan Team) +0:27
5. Florian Lipowitz (Bora-Hansgrohe) +0:27
6. Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +0:30
7. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:30
8. One Rubio (Movistar) +0:30
9. Juan Pedro Lopez (Lidl-Trek) +0:35
10. Jan Hirt (Soudal - Quick Step) +0:37

Giro d'Italia 2024: The current standings in the overall standings

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) 7:08:29
2. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) +0:45
3. Daniel Felipe Martinez (Bora-Hansgrohe) +0:45
4. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:54
5. One Rubio (Movistar) +0:54
6. Lorenzo Fortunato (Astana Qazaqstan Team) +1:05
7. Juan Pedro Lopez (Lidl-Trek) +1:09
8. Jan Hirt (Soudal - Quick Step) +1:11
9. Esteban Chaves (EF Education EasyPost) +1:24
10. Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +1:24

>> All results of the Giro d`Italia 2024 in the overview.

>> That was the 1st stage

>> This is the 3rd stage

How the 2nd stage of the Giro went

Many expected an exciting race - with a clear winner - from the earliest mountain finish at the Giro d`Italia since 1989. Although Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) lived up to expectations at the finish on the Santuario di Oropa, the course of the race initially painted a different picture. The race got off to a sharp start at 13:16 and got off to an explosive start. Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF - Faizane) immediately pulled away and took five riders with him, who were able to pull out a small lead on the peloton. Isolated attacks from the peloton in the first few kilometres could be stopped again and again, but a five-man Italian group managed to open up a larger gap to the peloton.

Fiorelli wins sprint classifications, Piccolo mountain classifications

The five breakaway riders, consisting of Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF - Faizane), Davide Bais (Polti-Kometa), Martin Marcellusi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF - Faizane), Christian Scaroni (Astana Qazaqstan Team) and Andrea Piccolo (EF Education EasyPost) were able to maintain their lead over a longer period of time and thus take the points in the two sprint finishes. Filippo Fiorelli won both sprints, also because the first one was less competitive, and thus secured the cyclo red jersey.
Andrea Piccolo then picked up the pace and set off alone towards the first mountain classification. He was able to maintain and later increase the gap to the chasing group and secured the points on the Oasi Zegna and the Nelva (both category 3, 9 points each). However, this only puts him in 4th place in the overall classification.

Decisive phase of the race

At this point, the race entered the decisive phase with around 23 kilometres to go. Piccolo's chasers were gradually caught by the peloton, which was alternately controlled by Ineos Grenadiers and UAE Team Emirates. More or less out of nowhere came the brief shock when Tadej Pogacar crashed at low speed. The reason was a flat front tyre, which caused the Slovenian to slip, but he was able to continue immediately.

Pogacar quickly worked his way back to and through the peloton to his team, which led the way and continued to set the pace. Around 6.5 kilometres before the finish, Andrea Piccolo, who had been very strong until then, was caught and swallowed up by the peloton. Many riders lost the connection due to the high speed on a climb of up to 14%. Pogacar launched his final attack in the last 5 kilometres, initially drawing a chasing group with him, but they quickly lost sight of him. With a lead of 27 seconds, the top favourite secured the stage win ahead of Daniel Felipe Martinez (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and took the pink jersey.

The Giro d'Italia 2024 in the TOUR live blog