Competition outclassed
Vingegaard races away from friend and foe at an altitude of 2,800 meters
March 8, 2024, 5:05 p.m
Jonas Vingegaard is once again the measure of all things on the bike: the tour winner not only takes victory in the difficult fifth stage at Tirreno-Adriatico. The Danish superstar outclasses the competition and races into the overall leader’s jersey.
Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard stormed to victory on the difficult fifth stage at Tirreno-Adriatico and slipped into the overall leader’s jersey. The Danish superstar from the top cycling team Visma-Lease a Bike drove away from the competition on the 146 kilometer long section from Torricella Sicura to Valle Castellana, the German riders around Lennard Kämna (Bora-hansgrohe) had no chance.
In the overall ranking, Vingegaard moved up from fifth place to the top position. The previous leader, the Italian sprinter Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), had already fallen behind in the first mountain classification of the day.
Several tough climbs awaited the peloton. In total, almost 2,800 meters of altitude had to be overcome – including the demanding pass of San Giacomo, a mountain of the highest category. There, Vingegaard made the decisive attack 29 kilometers from the finish; the lead over his first pursuers was ultimately 1:11 minutes. Most recently, Vingegaard attracted attention not only with his sporting best performances, but also with a new, futuristic helmet design. The World Cycling Federation has announced a review of its regulations following the introduction of new time trial helmets.
Briton Chris Froome didn’t start in the morning. As his racing team Israel-Premier Tech announced, the four-time Tour winner suffered a fractured scaphoid bone when he fell on the second stage. This was revealed by a magnetic resonance imaging scan carried out after the fourth section. The 38-year-old will now see a specialist.
The penultimate and sixth stage on Saturday leads over 180 km and 3100 meters in altitude from Sassoferrato to Cagli (Monte Petrano); the mountain finish there is expected to decide the overall victory in the “Race Between the Seas”. The long-distance journey ends on Sunday in San Benedetto del Tronto.