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100th Giro d’Italia Stage 5: Red-faced Pibernik celebrates win 6-km too early

Gaviria doubles up in Sicily, teammate Jungels keeps pink

May 10, 2017
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In Vincenzo Nibali’s hometown of Messina, Sicily, on Wednesday, the Shark’s teammate Luka Pibernik forgot that there was a 6-km circuit to ride and celebrated what he thought was an extremely easy win. However, several minutes later Colombian Fernando Gaviria (Quick Step) took the actual bunch sprint victory. Gaviria’s teammate Bob Jungels (Luxembourg) retains the jersey.


The Course

The riders had another relatively short stage to race, one that would surely end in a sprint on the last day in Sicily.


Wednesday is the first of four consecutive stages with routes favourable for bunch sprints, as the race travels through the toe of the Italian boot (Calabria) to the heel (Apulia) and then north. Sunday’s big summit finish on the brutal Blockhaus climb precedes the second rest day.

Intrepid Duo

The course only tempted two riders to breakaway, Evgeny Shalunev (Russia/Gazprom), who had been in the escape in Stage 2, and Maciej Paterski (Poland/CCC-Sprandi).


Shalunev lipped over the only categorized climb of the day in the lead.

Pibernik and the Messina Sprint

In Messina, the field would have a 6.5-km circuit with some tight corners including a roundabout at 1.5-km to go. At 14.5-km the fugitives’ big day out was over. Svein Tuft led Orica-Scott’s Caleb Ewan towards the circuit.

Pibernik then joined the ranks of cyclists throughout the years who have misunderstood the course and thrown their hands up early. He tickled everyone except his team by forgetting there was a lap to go and celebrated after he crossed the line for the first time.
https://twitter.com/wcstats/status/862321048234188800
In the real sprint, Gaviria peeled off his teammate Max Richeze’s tire to follow an early thrust from Sam Bennett (Ireland/Bora-Hansgrohe) and had time to turn around and check his rivals at the line. Bennett was third. Pibernik was 148th.

Michael Woods finished in the pack and retains his 22nd place on GC.

Thursday is another one for the fastmen as the 100th Giro reaches the mainland for the first time.

2017 Giro d’Italia Stage 5
1) Fernando Gaviria (Colombia/Quick Step) 3:40:1
2) Jakub Mareczko (Italy/Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia) s.t.
3) Sam Bennett (Ireland/Bora-Hansgrohe) s.t.
79) Michael Woods (Canada/Cannondale) s.t.
167) Svein Tuft (Canada/Orica-Scott) +2:03


2017 Giro d’Italia GC
1) Bob Jungels (Luxembourg/Quick Step) 23:22:07
2) Geraint Thomas (Great Britain/Sky) +0:06
3) Adam Yates (Great Britain/Orica-Scott) +0:10
22) Michael Woods (Canada/Cannondale) +1:27
166) Svein Tuft (Canada/Orica-Scott) +33:44