UAE Team Emirates enjoyed another successful day at the Giro d’Italia as Roberto Ferrari claimed second place on Stage 2 behind Germany’s Andre Greipel.
At the end of the 221-kilometre stage from Olbia to Tortoli, Ferrari was involved in a thrilling bunch sprint. While it was joy for Griepel, it was despair for Australian Caleb Ewan, who saw his chance of victory vanish when is left foot dislodged from his cleat during a tussle with Colombian Fernando Gaviria.
Jasper Stuyven of Trek-Segafredo completed the podium alongside Greipel and Ferrari.
“This was a tricky sprint that definitely gave an unexpected result,” Ferrari said. “My legs felt great and I am pleased placing second.
“After I was part of the lead group I gave my best to remain at the front of the bunch sprint. I’m very satisfied with my results and the great performance of the entire team in the climbs and descents.
“We are looking forward to tomorrow where we are aiming to have another top result.”
Ferrari’s podium finish comes a day after teammate Sacha Modolo claimed fifth place on the opening stage.
Greipel, who takes over the ‘maglia rosa’ — or pink jersey — now has 22 Grand Tour stage victories including 11 from the Tour de France and four from the Vuelta a Espana.
“It wasn’t an easy day with the head wind,” he said. “It made a six hours race but it also played in our favour. Otherwise there would have been some attacks.
“I’m really proud to win at the Giro again. I’m glad to win for my teammates who worked for me since yesterday. This stage win and the pink jersey are for them and also for my mother.”
With only four sprint stages remaining, Greipel is expected to head for home well before the race ends in Milan on May 28 following a challenging third week that should see Colombian Nairo Quintana challenge Italy’s defending champion Vincenzo Nibali for the overall win.
Postlberger, in only his second season as a professional, was the shock winner on Stage 1 but the Austrian was always going to struggle to keep the pink jersey within his Bora team.
With two categorised climbs in an undulating 221km stage to negotiate, an early breakaway was allowed to pull clear of the peloton and by the end of the day it paid dividends for Daniel Teklehaimmanot, of Dimension Data.
The Eritrean, who in 2015 became the first rider from an African team to wear the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France, also has designs on the King of the Mountain jersey in Italy and did enough to take possession early in this race.
When he claimed the 15 points on offer at the summit of Genna Silana, the second of the two climbs, the chasing peloton took over on a long, winding descent that saw a few, futile attacks fail to make an impact.
Stage 3 on Sunday is a 148km ride from Tortoli to Cagliari and the last on Sardinia before Monday’s rest day, and then two stages on Nibali’s native island of Sicily.
* Agencies
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