Gaviria pipped to the post as UAE Team Emirates claim another podium finish

In stage five (Frascati-Terracina)The Colombian sprinter showed his competitive edge, ploughing forward in the closing kilometre to take up a good position on the wheel of one of his fellow riders at the front of the peloton. The relentless rain provided difficult conditions for the peloton, and that undoubtedly played on the mind of the sprinters, who were all waiting for the right time to make their move. But with just 300 metres to go, Gaviria went, and it looked like he was primed for the stage win, before Pascal Ackermann (BORA-hansgrohe) pipped him to the line.

It was Gaviria’s second podium finish of this year’s race, adding to the stage win he picked up on Stage three, and continues the team’s good form following Diego Ulissi’s third placed finish on Stage four.

Commenting on the race, Gaviria said: “Today the rain and the cold made the race demanding, and I was pretty tired in the approach of the final circuit. Despite this, I gave the best in the sprint and I almost hit the big target. The arrival was at the end of a very long straight, it seemed we could never reach it! Watching the sprint after the race, I started the sprint too early, I would start later if I could go back and repeat it.”

Stage six (Cassino-San Giovanni Rotondo) will be the longest of the Giro 2019 and at 238km, could be good for a breakaway.

Stage 5 Results:

1 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) BORA-hansgrohe   3:15:44

2 Fernando Gaviria (Col) UAE Team Emirates  s.t.

3 Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ  s.t.

General Classification after stage 5:

1 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma  19:35:04

2 Simon Yates (GB) Mitchelton-Scott  +35”

3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain Merida   +39”

5 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates   +44”