Mads Pedersen reclaimed the leader’s pink jersey with victory in the third stage of the Giro d’Italia, as the race bid farewell to Albania. The Danish rider repeated his success from the first stage, holding off Corbin Strong of Israel-Premier Tech in a sprint finish in Vlore. Pedersen’s performance marked a pivotal moment in the race, with the Lidl-Trek team controlling the peloton and reeling in an early breakaway that had included Britain’s Josh Tarling, who had won stage two.
The stage saw a display of teamwork as Pedersen’s Lidl-Trek squad meticulously orchestrated the race’s pace, ensuring that Pedersen would be well-positioned for the final sprint. The peloton faced a climb with 40km to go, and Pedersen was supported by his teammate Mathias Vacek, who provided a strong lead-out to ensure the Danish rider was in a perfect position for the final push towards the line. Pedersen’s tactical brilliance and his team’s efforts paid off as he outpaced Strong in the closing meters to secure the win.
In addition to his stage victory, Pedersen gained valuable bonus seconds, which allowed him to overtake Primoz Roglic in the general classification. Before the stage, Pedersen trailed Roglic by one second, but with his triumph, he now holds a nine-second advantage over the Slovenian rider. Pedersen’s success also added to his morale, as he celebrated his second stage win of the race.
Reflecting on his performance, Pedersen expressed his satisfaction with the outcome. “Wow, to have two stage victories already and now back in the pink – that’s exactly what we wanted today,” he said. “This was the plan from this morning, to put a good pace on the long climb to control it for ourselves and give me a breather. Then from the climb on, it was controlling as far as we could and it was exactly as we wanted – and then [Giulio] Ciccone and Vacek were there doing an amazing leadout.”
The race was not without its unexpected moments, as earlier in the stage, a herd of goats caused some excitement on the road. Riders had to swerve to avoid the animals, and New Zealand cyclist Dion Smith narrowly escaped an accident when he was nearly forced off the road. Smith described the encounter, saying, “First time for a goat for me. I didn’t have too much time to think but I could see it 10 seconds before, the policeman trying to keep them all in, and then one or two started coming across. I don’t know which way I was going to go, but luckily I stayed up.”
The third stage in Albania marked the end of the race’s time in the country. The peloton is now set to transfer across the Adriatic Sea to Italy, where the next stage will begin in Alberobello, a town in the southern region of Puglia, after a rest day. The race is scheduled to conclude in Rome on June 1st, with riders facing more challenges ahead as they continue their pursuit of the coveted pink jersey.
Pedersen’s victory in the Vlore sprint and his ascent to the top of the general classification underscores his determination and the strength of his team. With a strong lead and his confidence growing, he will be one of the riders to watch as the Giro d’Italia progresses through its next stages. The Danish rider’s tactics and resilience make him a formidable contender for the overall title, and the competition remains wide open as the peloton heads to Italy for the next phase of the race.
