As it happened: Sprinters miss out on Giro d'Italia stage 5 after failed chase

Buongiorno and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 5 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia!

We're back for more sprint action today with 178km of racing from Genoa to Lucca. The riders will be heading south down the Ligurian coast from one of Italy's biggest cities into the Tuscany region.

Beautiful sunny weather has greeted the teams for sign-ons and the team presentation in Genoa.

Yesterday was Jonathan Milan's day as the powerful Italian sprinter scored his second Giro stage win with a leg-breaking long dash to the line in Andora. Catch up with the stage 4 report if you missed it!

Giro d'Italia: Jonathan Milan fastest in bunch sprint to win stage 4 as sprinters catch late-race attacker Filippo Ganna

Great reception for former two-time World Champion Julian Alaphilippe as SOudal-QuickStep head on stage. He'll be working for Tim Merlier today as the stage 3 winner looks to double up on stage victories.

Merlier was fifth yesterday and wasn't the biggest fan of the downhill run and super fast finale into Andora. Read what he had to say after the stage below.

'Happy I'm still alive' - Tim Merlier relieved and critical after fast Giro d'Italia finale

We're around 35 minutes from the neutralised roll out of Genoa.

Sign-on for today's stage is in the Piazza della Vittoria with a quite stunning view of the Arco della Vittoria - a memorial for the Genoese who died in the First World War.

Here's a look at the arch I mentioned earlier - Arco della Vittoria. Visma-Lease a Bike are the team underneath it as they eye a better sprint finish from Olav Kooij after taking sixth and fourth in the first two bunch finishes. 

Today's route should also offer up some opportunity for a breakaway with two categorised climbs along the way - one Cat.4 and one Cat.3. These alongside a technical run-into Lucca should make it another day far from a straightforward bunch finish. 

Another day, another outfit - Tadej Pogačar has gone all out in pink for the fifth stage after the saga with his shorts from the third stage.

Unofficial start

Riders are gone from the line in Genoa with some lovely views of the city to see them out. They'll need to get to the east side of the city for kilometre 0. 

The Maglia Rosa in all its glory.

Relaxed atmosphere through the neutral zone. Around 6km left to get through the historic streets.

All 170 riders who finished yesterday have started the fifth stage. A reminder that Biniam Girmay, Torstein Træen and Bram Welten all, unfortunately, had to leave the race on stage 4.

The big man for the big occasion - Can Jonathan Milan take another stage win today after his mighty sprint yesterday?

Small tumble for Tobias Lund Andresen (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) in the neutral zone. It hasn't been the best start for the Dutch team with their GC leader Romain Bardet suffering with illness and neither Andresen or headline sprinter Fabio Jakobsen finishing in the top 3 of a bunch finish yet. 

The riders were making sure to get the carbs on board at the start and it would be rude not to in the home of focaccia. 

We may have a small delay in the flag drop at the start with a few riders coming back from minor spills and mechanical issues. The terrain today and dry weather do offer up more chances for an early attack.

178KM TO GO

Here we go then, neutral zone done and ace director Stefano Allocchio is ready to wave the flag out of the sunroof of the lead car.

Stage 5 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia is underway!

Attacks right from the flag - it is Cofidis who take the first shot through Wood. He's followed by Bais from Polti, Askey from Groupama FDJ and a bigger group is coming up behind. 

Bais and Askey have dropped wood with Ewen Costiou (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) also bridging over - he's a talented young French rider and could be an option if this move materialises. 

The big sprint teams - Lidl-Trek, Alpecin-Deceuninck and Soudal-QuickStep seem to have put the breaks on at the front of the peloton to try and block more attacks from launching. 

Stunning views on the route out of Genoa this afternoon...

Current race situation:
Lead:
- Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ)
- Ewen Costiou (Arkéa-B&B Hotels)
- Mattia Bais (Polti Kometa)
Chasing: +0:27
- Simon Geschke (Cofidis)
- Manuele Tarozzi (Bardiani)
Peloton: +1:21

Costiou has curiously started dropping back after getting on the radio and looking around. He's sat in between the lead duo and the chasing duo for now. 

170KM TO GO

Costiou has got to Geschke and Tarozzi and continued dropping back. Arkéa clearly don't fancy this group to come to anything and have pulled out the 21-year-old.

Geschke and Tarozzi are close to making it a four-man group at the head of the race for stage 5. The peloton sits 2:11 back with Lidl-Trek taking control of the day followed closely by Soudal-QuickStep. 

It looks as though Costiou's decision was a good one dropping back to the peloton. Soudal-QuickStep are now taking a turn on the front and the gap has already come down to 1:35 on one of the uncategorised sections of uphill road that characterise the route. 

160KM TO GO

Status quo for now with Geschke, Askey, Bais and Tarozzi settling into a day out in front of the peloton. 

First prolonged period of descending to navigate for the break and peloton but thankfully the sunshine has left dry roads to get by instead of the wet roads that took Biniam Girmay out of the race yesterday. 

A look at the peloton on today's fifth stage. They are keeping the break at a very manageable gap of 1:15 so they can make the catch whenever they want. Expect they will allow the four leaders to dangle just in front until we ramp up for the finale.

150KM TO GO

The peloton is making their way past the stunning Portofino, perhaps even getting a chance to take in the view with a far from infernal pace being set by Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier for Lidl-Trek. 

The breakaway on stage 5 of the Giro d'Italia. Tarozzi did just jump away up the road but it appears he just had to stop momentarily. 

Gap to the leaders no just 23 seconds with the four in front putting in no real drive, knowing the effort is futile with such a motivated peloton. 

Nature breaks over and time to restart the effort. Askey, Geschke, Bais and Tarozzi are back on the power now and building their advantage back out with under 15km to go until the first climb of the day - the Passo del Bracco (15.3 km at 4%).

140KM TO GO

The peloton is riding next to the Giro train with Trofeo Senza Fine watching on. 

Harrison Wood (Cofidis) jumped out of the front of the peloton before sitting up again. Its not the first time he's made a curious attack at this year's Giro but it looks as though the team pulled him back as he was on the radio. 

Closing in on the climb now and we could see the likes of Kaden Groves and Olav Kooij put their Alpecin and Visma teams to work to try and sting the legs of the "purer" sprinters as they tried to do yesterday. 

Here's a list of the fast men to look for contesting today's stage:
- Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
- Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep)
- Olav Kooij and Christophe Laporte (Visma-Lease a Bike)
- Caleb Ewan (Jayco AlUla)
- Fabio Jakobsen and Tobias Lund Andresen (DSM-Firmenich PostNL)
- Alberto Dainese and Matteo Trentin (Tudor)
- Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
- Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious)
- Danny van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe)
- Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates)
- Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ)
- Ethan Vernon (Israel-Premier Tech)

130KM TO GO

Just as I typed that, Laurence Pithie had an issue and had a mechanical at the foot of the 15km climb, but he's back on his way now.

Alpecin have moved to the front and the gap to the break is now just 58 seconds. Groves has marshalled his troops and wants to do some damage to his rival's legs. 

Fabio Jakobsen has already dropped, almost as soon as Alpecin ramped up the pace. It has been a continued struggle for the Dutch sprinter at his Giro debut. Pithie has flown by him trying to get back to the peloton. 

Jimmy Janssens is the man doing the damage for Alpecin. Pithie is back in at the back of the peloton.

Hermans has now hit the front as Alpecin's assault of the course continues. Quite the effort from the Belgian squad to sting the legs of the other sprinters. 

Gap to the break is now just 31 seconds.

Still over 6km left to go in the climb as Stefano Oldani (Cofidis) receives some treatment back at the medical car. 

The catch is close to being made now as the quarter are well within Alpecin's sights behind. 

Here's Pogačar in pink. He's sat close to the front of the peloton with his UAE team just staying safe for now.

120KM TO GO

As the tough pace continues on, Caleb Ewan (Jayco AlUla) is towards the back of the peloton with a teammate.

Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché Wanty) looks to be moving up to the front of the peloton in the Maglia Azurra. He's not actually the leader of the King of the Mountains classification but is donning the jersey as only race leader Pogačar is ahead of him. 

Merlier, Gaviria dropped

Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) is in trouble at the back of the peloton and struggling now. He's fading off the back with teammates around him but there are still over three kilometres left to ride on the climb. 

The break are giving it a good crack and still haven't been reeled in. Their advantage has stabilised around 26 seconds as Alpecin continue to push through Hermans. Ewan has managed to stay in contact at the back of the peloton. 

Scratch that last update, Ewan has dropped now - not a good sign of things to come for the Australian sprinter. He'll be back with Merlier and co. behind and even is they do get back, they will struggle with the category 4 climb which tops out 20km from the finish in Lucca. 

115KM TO GO - KOM

Bais takes off to win the King of the Mountains point at the top of the Passo del Bracco but is overtaken by Geschke at the line for the nine points. The gap has faded to just 15 seconds for the break as they start the long descent. 

The break is about to be caught, just four seconds in front of Alpecin now on the downhill. 

The group containing Merlier and Ewan has made contact with the back of the peloton. Again, Alpecin's aim was just to sting the legs so they will still likely be pleased with their efforts having dropped both. 

110KM TO GO

All back together, what happens now without a breakaway? We've still got a long way to go, 30km until the first intermediate sprint point into Ceparana. 

The boys in double-denim have not given up their efforts and even after the first descent section, have continued to put on the pain just on a section of unclassified climbing. Alpecin-Deceuninck will not be popular in the peloton.

Small splits forming at the back of the peloton with Merlier and Ewan again put behind the lead. They will get back in contact but this is really burning matches for the finish. Merlier is keeping calm in the chasing group with teammates around him and just measuring his efforts. 

100KM TO GO

Bad luck continues for Intermarché-Wanty as Adrien Petit abandons the race. He had been way out the back in the group containing Fabio Jakobsen and his DSM teammates. 

For the first time since the foot of that first climb, Alpecin have decided enough is enough and backed off the pace. Is the damage done? We'll find out come the finish in Lucca.

Fabio Jakobsen is reportedly 3:40 down on the peloton but will be thankful for the slow down at the front which may help him to make it back to the peloton to avoid the time limit.

90KM TO GO

Status quo in the peloton again with around 10km to go until the intermediate sprint in Ceparana.

Jakobsen has safely made it back into the peloton. His form on that first climb wasn't a great sign that he can survive the cat.4 climb near the finish, but DSM do have Tobias Lund Andresen who is more than capable of challenging the finish.

A quiet day for Geraint Thomas and Ineos Grenadiers today. They'll just be trying to stay safe to keep the Welshman firmly in second overall behind Pogačar. 

80KM TO GO

The pace is building up again as Alpecin and Visma begin to lead out Kooij and Groves for the intermediate sprint.

Milan didn't go for the intemediate points yesterday before his win but now he is lurking close behind the front in the ciclamino jersey with his team now leading him out.

Crash

High-speed crash for Christophe Laporte (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the run towards that sprint. Kooij took second at the sprint behind Groves with Milan in third. 

Laporte is down and holding his left shin/ankle. The replay appears to show the European Champion hit a pothole or drain on the road which caused him to wobble and crash. He's on his feet thankfully but hasn't yet remounted. 

Now that the sprint is done, we've had the attacks restart. It is similar suspects to the day's early move with Groupama-FDJ, Cofidis, EF Education EasyPost and Polti Kometa involved. 

Riders in the new move:
- Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis)
- Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost)
- Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ)
- Andrea Pietrobon (Polti-Kometa)

In the middle of that attack going, Laporte thankfully got back on his bike but with a hefty amount of road rash on his left side from where he hit the deck. 

The gap to the leading quarter has gone straight out to 1:15 with QuickStep and Alpecin quickly getting back into position to stabilise the deficit. 

70KM TO GO

A look back at Milan, Groves and Kooij after contesting the intermediate sprint. Will they be the three favourites for the day, or can Merlier bounce back from being dropped earlier in the day and take his second stage win of the 2024 race?

The four men out in front are pushing on nicely with a 1:30 advantage on the peloton. 

60KM TO GO

Alpecin-Deceuninck, Lidl-Trek and Soudal-QuickStep are all working in harmony now to keep the breakaway's lead at a manageable time. The quarter are closing in on the Intergiro point for the day in Luni.  

While you have the chance, make sure to read Philippa York's Giro d'Italia analysis on the opening few stages and race leader Tadej Pogačar:

Which Pogačar was everyone expecting?

Pietrobon wins the Intergiro sprint at the head of the road uncontested. In the peloton, Alpecin-Deceuninck sprung out from behind with Groves in a train of four riders, catching Milan off guard and mopping up the spots ahead of the Italian, leaving him only one point.

Christophe Laporte has made his way back into the peloton after crashing earlier in the day. He looks battered and bruised but you can expect him to give everything he has left to help Olav Kooij in the finish. 

Current top five in the points classification standings:
- Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek): 120
- Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep): 81
- Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck): 79
- Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike): 54
- Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizané): 42

50KM TO GO

Ghebreigzabhier is back on the front for a turn. The Eritrean has got through a mountain of work on the front throughout the Giro so far, he's quite the domestique for the likes of Milan. 

The second four-man break of the day: Pietrobon, Thomas, Paleni and Valgren. Their advantage is at 1:11 with the sprinter's teams chasing behind. 

With the race passing through Massa, we've now moved from Liguria into the region of Tuscany as we close in on the finish in Lucca. 

40KM TO GO

The gap to the leaders is coming down as the peloton ramps up towards the final climb of the day, the Montemagno (3 km at 4.3%), which arrives in just under 18 kilometres time.

Crash

Crash at the back of the peloton for several riders. Polti-Kometa are heavily involed and Riley Pickrell looks to have bloodied his face in the incident. Thankfully, the Canadian was quickly up on his feet and hopefully, the crash isn't much more than a bad superficial cut. 

That appeared to have occurred on a nasty piece of road furniture around a left-hand corner. 

Will the work of Pieter Sierry pay off for Soudal-QuickStep? With the incoming climb, Alpecin are likely to try and blow up the legs of Merlier after dropping him earlier in the day, so perhaps this is the wrong move.  

30KM TO GO

Just as I typed, the GC teams have moved closer to the front and every team has suddenly got more interested in leading with both a bonus seconds sprint and the foot of the final climb incoming. 

Dani Martínez has just made his way back onto the peloton after going off the back away from the TV cameras. He'll be trying to make it safely to the finish without any time lost before the gravel stage tomorrow. 

Here we go, time for the Montemagno climb to start with the 3 km ramp averaging a 4.3% gradient. The break mopped up all the bonus seconds that were on offer in Camaiore with the full focus now on trying to make it to Lucca. 

Pace is really behind with Lidl-Trek and Ineos bookending the peloton before the climb. Bahrain Victorious are also showing themselves now after a strong finish yesterday from Phil Bauhaus who was third behind Milan and Groves. 

The break still has a 57-second advantage on the peloton. 

Crash

Big crash in the peloton with a lot of riders down. Attila Valter (Visma), Michael Woods (Israel), Tobias Foss (Ineos) and Henok Mulubrhan (Astana) all involved. Lots of damage being done in this run for home. Hopefully, this is the last of the crashes. 

The break hit the climb with a 1:03 advantage still well intact. The pace will really need to explode in the group behind to make a good impression on the leaders up Montemagno. 

A late look at the peloton navigating the trees en route to Lucca in Tuscany.

The four-man break is doing a brilliant job for now with a 52-second advantage still to make up in the 20km run for home. Valgren leads them over the KOM point and the frantic downhill finale begins.

20KM TO GO

Can this breakaway make it? It will take quite the push from the sprint teams to get them but they must not hesitate and start playing games too early if they want to survive. 

Alpecin-Deceuninck are again taking up the mantle for now on the front with big Daan Houle ready to empty himself for Milan and Lidl-Trek. 

Its tongue out and time to give everything for Thomas and the rest of the breakaway as they fight to try and stay away. 55 seconds is the gap now. 

If the sprint teams are able to chase down the break, they'll have this tricky, technical finish in Lucca to navigate. Tight corner, roundabouts and narrowed roads will need to be taken well to make it to the line. The GC riders will also need to stay rubber-side down to keep their GC hopes alive. 

The panic is setting in as Lidl-Trek begin to gesture Alpecin to come through. Where has the help gone? If they leave it all up to Trek, the break will have a fantastic shot at making it. 

With Milan dominating yesterday and showing his strength, the rest of his competitors are clearly banking on Milan wasting his train before the finale, before they come through to help. 

Jayco AlUla have moved through after Caleb Ewan's criticism of the team yesterday. They've blinked first and the Australian must have told them he is feeling good. 

10KM TO GO

The gap is coming down but only slowly. It is still 49 seconds as more firepower starts to show themselves to help the chase, but it could be too late. 

Alpecin for now have stopped putting riders into the chase, they are playing a dangerous game after pacing so much earlier in the day. QuickStep, Jayco, Intermarché and Trek are the teams leading the way.

Here comes Tudor, FDJ, Bahrain and Polti now towards the front. It's all hands on deck to try and bring this back for a sprint but the break is doing a stellar job with a 43-second advantage still giving them hope. 

Visma, even without Laporte are starting to commit for Kooij. Still not enough of an impression is being made on the gap, though. 

Lidl-Trek have now started to gamble and save the rest of their train for the final with Visma, Intermarché, Jayco and QuickStep taking on the brunt of the work. The pace in the peloton is up to 62kph but they are close to being matched with the quartet hitting 60kph. 

5KM TO GO

The more the kilometres go by, the more it looks like this break is going to make it home. 

Thomas, Pietrobon, Paleni and Valgren are the four in front as a reminder. They are absolutely flying along in harmony. The peloton have got this all wrong. 

When do they dare start thinking about the win? They can't let up their efforts but it always seems to happen. They need to keep up the unity if they are to make it. 

Ineos Grenadiers have now started pulling on the front, probably from more of a safety point of view, not trying to take the stage win. Pietrobon is sitting on now in the break.

2KM TO GO

The GC men have safely made it to the 3km mark and the run for the line will begin. Pietrobon is still sitting on and trying to save his legs as the first signs of game playing have begun. 

We've entered the walls of Lucca and it is a 25-second lead still to make up in 2 kilometres for the sprint teams but they seem to have lost it all now. 

Alpecin-Deceuninck have moved to the front but it is surely too late after they didn't contribute in the long downhill sector. Even as I type, the hesitation has seen the pin pulled in the bunch. 

1KM TO GO

Final kilometre, here's the attack from Pietrobon after sitting on.

The Polti man has stolen a march and he's on the way to victory if he can hold it. Paleni is on the front with Thomas laying off the back.

Pietrobon is fading and what a finale this is. Here comes Valgren!

But Thomas saved his legs and it is Cofidis coming to the line. 

Benjamin Thomas wins stage 5 of the Giro d'Italia!

They've had to wait all season long but finally the win comes on May 8 for the French team who have struggled all year. What a win for Thomas and Cofidis. 

Valgren timed it well as Pietrobon faded but Thomas' showed his track prowess and played the finale perfectly. Chapeau to all four men in the break who held off a charging peloton with one of the most stacked sprint fields in years at the Giro d'Italia. 

Here's Thomas crossing the line in Lucca. He's been close in the past at the Tour de France when a sprint closed him down in the final kilometre, but he finally has his maiden Grand Tour and WorldTour victory. What an incredible day for Cofidis and Thomas in Italy.

356 days since the Frenchman's last win and 245 since the French team's last victory but finally it comes, and at of the biggest race during the Giro d'Italia.

It wasn't quite the win but it was great to see Michael Valgren back contesting the biggest races after long struggles with injury. Here's what he had to say after the line:

"Its the Giro right, like it means a lot. A few years back, I was not sure if I had a contract right so the team really helped me through this in a really good way and I'm happy to start to pay things back. I'm just grateful I can still be a cyclist so thanks to everybody," he told reporters.

"Lucca was my home once for one year on my first year as a pro with Saxo so it has a special meaning for sure. I knew the last 50km so it was nice to be back. I think knowing the Montemagno climb was a good one for sure but the rest was pretty straightforward to be honest.

"When you're kind of on your home roads, you always get 10% extra in the legs right? And that's also the feeling I had today."

Here's what Benjamin Thomas said after netting the biggest victory of his career:

"It was like a long, long, long team pursuit," laughed Thomas when asked how his track background helped in the break. "We did an amazing break and I don't believe it. It was really hard in the finale, every pull was full gas. It's unbelievable.

"I think 10k to go we were with 50-40 seconds still and it was tailwind so we knew we could have played with the bunch. If we were going 60kph it was not for the bunch to close."

Thomas as mentioned nearly found Grand Tour success in a similarly stunning walled city Carcassonne to that of Lucca at the Tour and it was with him throughout the final.

"I thought to Carcassonne in the last kilometre and I said 'Maybe today is my day'. I bet nobody bet on the attackers today and the final was really critical because with the attack with 1k to go by the Italian rider, I said OK 'I risk to lose' but I don't close the gap and everything is perfect to do. I don't know what to say, honestly.

"I knew all the road of the final because I train there sometimes. It was helping me to know with the cobbles and the corners and it's a nice thing to live in Italy, it means a lot for me," concluded the Frenchman, who lives in the country with his Italian partner.

Make sure to read our full, concise race report of all the day's action:

Giro d'Italia: Benjamin Thomas wins dramatic stage 5 as breakaway holds off charging field in Lucca

Here's the full top ten on stage 5 with Milan coming home first in the bunch sprint behind just 11 seconds behind Thomas:
- Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) 3:59:59
- Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost) st.
- Andrea Pietrobon (Polti-Kometa) st.
- Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ) +0:03
- Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) +0:11
- Caleb Ewan (Jayco AlUla) st.
- Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) st.
- Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) st.
- Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) st.
- Madis Mihkels (Intermarché Wanty) st.

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) safely rolled home to finish in Lucca with his other GC rivals also unscathed throughout stage 5. He maintains a 46-second lead on Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) after five days of racing. 

The GC battle is expected to kick back into life during the sixth stage where a tough 180km route from Viareggio to Rapolano Terme will take in gravel sectors in Strade Bianche territory close to Siena.

It will be a day for survival and we should see a furious fight for position heading into each sector of sterrato. Can the punchy Classics riders make the difference, or will this year's Strade Bianche winner Pogačar show off his talents on the off-road terrain to take his second stage win of the week?

That wraps up our live coverage of stage 5 at the Giro d'Italia but make sure to look out for news coming out from the race from our team on the ground in Lucca. Check back tomorrow for live coverage of the sixth stage which is set to be another thriller in what has been an incredible Giro d'Italia so far.