Mathieu van der Poel took the first pink jersey of the Giro d’Italia in a chaotic finish to the opening stage in Visegrad.
The Dutchman, making his Giro debut, emulated his success in taking the yellow jersey early on in his first Tour de France last summer as he beat Biniam Girmay in an uphill sprint to the line.
Caleb Ewan was on for a podium finish but the Australian brushed wheels with Girmay in sight of the line and hit the deck hard, allowing Pello Bilbao to take third place.
Van der Poel, grandson of the late French favourite Raymond Poulidor and a star on the road, in cyclocross and on his mountain bik …
- May 7, 2022
