As it happened: Narváez defeats Pogačar to win opening stage of the Giro

Buongiorno and welcome to our live coverage of stage 1 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia!

After weeks of anticipation and build-up, it’s time for the real business to begin - the 107th edition of the Giro d’Italia starts here! We’re set for three weeks of daily action of some of the most exciting, dramatic cycling, beginning here in Piedmont.

It’s difficult to remember the last time a rider began a Grand Tour as such an overwhelming favourite as Tadej Pogačar is for this one. The talk hasn’t so much been about if he will win the pink jersey, but things like how many stages he will win doing so, and whether he can hold the pink jersey from start to finish.

There aren’t any riders here with the Grand Tour credentials to match Pogačar’s, but the one who comes closest is Geraint Thomas. The Welsheman has unfinished business at the Giro having come so close to winning twelve months ago, and says he wouldn’t be riding if he felt it was not possible to do so this year.

As for the rest of the field, there are plenty of stars present, from old heads such as Romain Bardet and Damiano Caurso, to rising talents like Cian Uijtdebroeks and Antonio Tiberi. Have a look at how we rate all the top favourites’ chances.

Before we get too wrapped up in the big picture of the race for the overall classification, let's consider the short-term matter of the stage win, and first pink jersey, up for grabs today. Although there are some late climbs to keep the GC contender alert, it’s more for the puncheurs rather than the climbers.

Of course, as well as being arguably the best Grand Tour rider in the peloton, Pogačar is also in consideration for being the world’s best puncheur, as his performances in the classics demonstrate, so he’s already in the mix for a stage win, and some gained time.

The race is set to begin imminently! The riders are making their way through the neutralised zone in Venaria Reale, our first glimpse of the unrivalled beautiful scenes that Italy can always be relied upon.

The sun is shining on the Giro, which will be greatly welcomed by the riders, especially considering some of the bleak, cold conditions many have raced in this spring.

137KM TO GO

The flag is waved, and the 107th Giro d'Italia is officially underway.

Lots of riders massed at the front looking at each other for now, with no committed moved being made yet.

Four riders try to get away, but aren't being allowed by the peloton, which is full of riders who look interesed in being part of the day's break. 

Now we have a group of five with a small gap, following a move instigated by Andrea Pietrobon and Louis Barré.

They've been joined by one other rider, and the peloton already seems to be easing up.

There are still some riders and teams unhappy with the situation, though. Three riders attack out of the peloton, but are brought back.

130KM TO GO

The leading six have 18 seconds on the peloton. The peloton hasn't calmed down yet, though, so they could still be brought back.

This might be it now. The peloton has slowed again, and nobody else is attacking.

Over a minute now for the six out front - it seems we have our break of the day. That wasn't too long a battle to form it, but considering the reluctance to be in the day’s break we’ve seen during the opening week of recent Grand Tours, it was relatively competitive.

Here are the six riders in the break:

Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Lidl-Trek)

Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché - Wanty)

Louis Barré (Arkéa B&B Hotels)

Nicolas Debeaumarché (Cofidis)

Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè)

Andrea Pietrobon (Polti Kometa)

Here are the huge crowds that saw the Giro off at Venaria Reale. Fans have continued to dot the roadisde since then. The Giro remains as popular as ever!

UAE Team Emirates have taken control at the front of the peloton. We can expect to see this a lot throughout the race, as rarely will other teams feel obliged to work considering the overwhelming favourite status of their leader Tadej Pogačar.

120KM TO GO

UAE Team Emirates are keeping the break's lead pegged at about 1-30 for now. Even at this early stage they're unwilling to give an inch. 

A bit of a dodgy moment for the break, who have to check themselves ahead of some road furniture while rounding a corner. Opening stages of Grand Tours are notorious for crashes, so fingers crossed everyone can come through this one unscathed.

The peloton also has to be careful going around it, but no fallers thankfully. 

It’s no surprise to see representatives from the wildcard teams VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè and Polti Kometa in the break, nor Arkéa B&B Hotels or Cofidis given the lack of an obvious leader in either of their line-ups. But Intermarché - Wanty and Lidl-Trek are not teams you’d expect to target the breakaways, given their respective big name sprinters Biniam Girmay and Jonathan Milan. The implication seems to be that their domestiques will have some freedom to ride for themselves.

110KM TO GO

That freedom might be enough to get them in the break, but it's unlikely to amount to competing for the stage win. Their lead has actually come down to an even smaller 1-15 in recent kilometres. 

UAE Team Emirates might be leading the peloton, but Ineos Grenadiers want to exercise some authority too, and have most of their riders together right towards the front. The British team has been reluctant to relinquish their patron status despite a decline in results in recent years, and they already seem to be making a statement to UAE that they believe they can take on Pogačar.

A first glimpse of Tadej Pogačar out on the road at the Giro d'Italia.

100KM TO GO

Still only 1-15 for the break. UAE Team Emirates seem happy to let them stay out for now, but with virtually no hope of still being there come the finish.

The first climb of the day, Berzano di San Pietro, is not too far away now, coming in less than 10km. It's only a category four, but will likely be hotly contested in the break with a first King of the Mountains jersey and a place on the podium at the end of the day up for grabs. To do so, however, they will need to still be still out there come the two other climbers later in the stage, which right now is looking unlikely.

The six riders in the break are on the climb now.

No movement yet from anyone in the break. They are waiting for the summit to sprint it out for the points.

Pietrobon makes the first move, 400m from the top.

Fiorelli wins the sprint for the maximum points.

Pietrobon's move saw Debeaumarché dropped, and Calmejane was distanced near the top, leaving it to the other four to sprint. Fiorelli claimed the maximum 3 points, with 2 going to Barré and 1 for Ghebreigzabhier.

90KM TO GO

The break have regrouped together again now, and all the action has seen their lead grow to nearly 2-30. 

Here are the six riders in the breakaway.

The leading sextet have something else to go for in a few kilometres - the first intermediate sprint of the race. 

Fiorelli sprints for this one too...

...and Fiorelli wins this one too ahead of Calmejane. That earns them ponts in both the Intermediate Sprints classification, and the Points Classification.

Interestingly, Alpecin-Deceuninck have taken over control of the peloton, and seem to be leading out Groves for some Points Classification points.

Groves takes the remaining points uncontested. Clearly the Australian is eying up the Maglia Ciclamino, despite a lack of form so far this season.

Fiorelli and Calmejane are bickering about something, as they wait for the other four to rejoin them after being distanced in that sprint. They don’t seem especially happy - they will surely have hoped to have had a bigger gap than the mere 1-30 they currently have over the peloton.

75KM TO GO

Less than 10km now until they start climbing the next climb, the Superga, where things could start to get very interesting. This is longer and more difficult than the previous climb, and though it’s too early for attacks, we could start seeing teams with designs on both GC and the stage win start to up the pace.

For now, though, the pace in the peloton is benign, and the break has managed to extend their lead back to over two minutes again. 

70KM TO GO

Now 2-30 for the break. This is looking better for their chances of picking up the remaining KOM points. 

And the battle for those points will begin shortly - they're just about to start climbing the Superga hill.

The pace is up in the peloton now as they approach the climb, bringing the deficit down to just over two minutes.

It's till UAE Team Emirates leading, but the likes of Bahrain-Victorious and Bora-Hansgrohe are joining them up toward the front. 

Attack from Calmejane in the break! He’s after the KOM points.

Pietrobon was the only rider to follow him, but Ghebreigzabhier has both caught up and gone clear of them both.

Ghebreigzabhier has a gap. Calmejane and Pietrobon can see him, but are a few seconds behind. 

Fiorelli has now managed to bridge up to that chasing duo. 

Still a few kilometres from the top. Ghebreigzabhier is pulling further away. 

Calmejane accelerates from the chasers, and though Pietrobon is briefly dropped, the three remain together. 

Ghebreigzabhier reaches the top of Superga, claiming nine points in the King of the Mountains. He's now virtual leader of that classification.

Behind, Fiorelli takes the sprint for second, followed Pietrobon and Calmejane.

Further back the peloton has been taking this climb much easier. UAE Team Emirates have continued to lead, but are contrlling rather than trying to thin out the group.

60KM TO GO

The break's lead is in fact higher than it's been all day, now up to three minutes. 

Ghebreigzabhier is still clear on the descent, with Pietrobon and Calmejane chasing behind. 

Calmejane is now with Ghebreigzabhier at the front of the race, with Pietrobon and Fiorelli 15 seconds behind.

Ghebreigzabhier and Calmejane are pulling away from the others, with a lead now of 25 seconds. They were the strongest two riders in the break on paper, and have concluded that they're better off without the rest. 

Ghebreigzabhier was a little confused going around a corner, nearly going down the wrong road. He's still pushing hard though, this lead up to 30 seconds.

Back in the peloton, Debeaumarché has been brought back. Barré is still out there somewhere and will presumably be caught soon too. 

50KM TO GO

Ghebreigzabhier and Calmejane's lead over the next two riders is about 30 seconds, but perhaps more importantly, three minutes to the peloton. That's much healthier than earlier in the stage, and they can hope to make it to the next and final climb still at the front. 

That next climb is Colle Maddalena, in about 25km. It's the hardest of the day, and, rated cateogry two, has more points available on it. 

Problem for Eduardo Affini, who's tyre has come off. He's had his bike replaced and is chasing back into the peloton now.

UAE Team Emirates are still leading the peloton, although Rui Oliveira has taken over from Vegard Stake Laengen, the man who's done virtually all the work pacing the peloton so far today. 

40KM TO GO

Over a minute now between Ghebreigzabhier and Calmejane out front, and Pietrobon and Fiorelli behind. It's very doubtful that later duo can get back into contention now.

Before the Colle Maddalena, the riders will have to climb a short uncategorised ascent, which will also feature again just a few kilometres from the finish. Those gunning for a stage win can get a feel for what it’s like, before judging their efforts the next, decisive time up. 

The two leaders have just passed through a point for a new classification, the Intergiro. They did not sprint for it, with Calmejane rolling through - there may be an agreement for him to take these points in exchange for Ghebreigzabhier being allowed the KOM points. 

There are also points available here for the point classification, and Alpecin-Deceuninck have once again taken over control in the peloton in anticipation of it.

They lead out Groves, but he's beaten to the line by defending Points Classification winner Jonathan Milan, and Danny Van Poppel.

Back up ahead, Ghebreigzabhier has dropped Calmejane on the unclassified climb.

There are huge crowds here, with spectators lined several people deep.

UAE Team Emirates are leading the peloton again on this climb, and are bringing back more of the break's remnants - first Fiorelli, now Pietrobon.

Some riders are being dropped from the peloton, including potential stage winner Christophe Laporte. He's clearly still struggling with the problems that have blighted him all spring. 

Calmejane has rejoined Ghebreigzabhier, and the pair are just arriving into the finish line for the first time, where they will hear the bell.

30KM TO GO

They hear the bell, and there's only 30km and one lap left to ride, but their lead has decreased significantly to 1-50 over the peloton.

Now here comes UAE Team Emirates towards the finish line. They've strung the peloton out into one long line, and are going at a rapid pace. Unsurprisingly, they're eying up a stage win already for Pogačar.

Other groups have formed behind the peloton of dropped riders. We can expect many more casualties on the next climb, which they will begin imminently.

There's a crash in the peloton. Some visible frustration shown by the riders, with five or six involved, but all are upright and none seem hurt. 

Veterans Robert Gesink and Domenico Pozzovivo were among those involved.

Meanwhile Ghebreigzabhier and Calmejane are on the Maddalena climb now.

Now UAE Team Emirates lead the peloton onto it, 1-22 behind.

UAE setting a fierce tempo on the climb, with more riders being dropped. The faster they ride, the more their puncheur and sprinter rivals will struggle.

One of the few sprinters who might have hoped to survive, Girmay, has been dropped.

Big surprise as Ineos' Thymen Arensman is hanging on at the back. He's the first GC contender to show signs of weakness today. 

Mikkel Bjerg is the UAE rider doing the damage, a powerful man who has done this job for Pogačar many times in the past.

The peloton is now within a minute of the two leaders. Can they hang on for the KOM points?

Woods has also been dropped. He would have been a favourite today if in top form.

The peloton is much reduced now, with a few score riders lefts.

Arensman has now been dropped, and has lost 8 seconds to the pelton already.

Calmejane attacks Ghebreigzabhier, and is clear at the head of the race, but may not be for long with the peloton bearing down on them.

There is perhaps around 40 riders left in the peloton.

Ghebreigzabhier's day is over. He's been caught by the peloton, and won't be leading the King of the Mountains classification after all.

Now Romain Bardet seems to be struggling He's the last rider in the peloton, and appears to be suffering.

Rafał Majka is the only UAE Team Emirates rider left ahead of Pogačar. Is the Slovenian being set up for an attack?

Another GC candidate being dropped now - Luke Plapp, very visible in his Australian national champions jersey.

This is a lot of GC contenders being dropped for what is only a category two climb, especially considering how big the peloton remains. Perhaps this has come too early in the race for them to have warmed up properly yet?

Meanwhile Calmejane still has 16 seconds on the peloton, with less than a kilometre left to climb. He needs just one final effort to be on the poidum tonight at leader of the King of the Mountains.

Calmejane has done it! He looks spent, but he can rest now having reached the top of the climb. 

The peloton reach the climb just a handful of seconds behind. There were no attacks from it - those hoping to win the stage must be waiting for the final, uncategorised hill near the finish. 

20KM TO GO

So, the damage as it stands is 55 seconds for Bardet, and 1-15 for Arensman. These are major upsets, as these two riders were considered among the top favourites for a podium finish.

Calmejane is also still out in front, with a lead of 20 seconds. He'll keep going, but will surely be caught before the end.

30 seconds no for Calmejane. He hasn't given up.

Max Schachmann doesn't want to wait for the final climb. He's just attacked out of the peloton on the descent. 

Schachmann has Mikkel Frølich Honoré and Nicola Conci with him, and they have a gap of a few seconds on the peloton.

Behind them another quartet is chasing, featuring potential GC threat Damiano Caruso.

The Caruso group has caught that trio, forming a new group of seven. These are strong riders, too, and the peloton will have to work hard to bring them back. 

They're 20 seconds ahead of the peloton. They have a chance to compete for the stage if they can work well together. 

As well as Honoré, Conci, Schachmann and Caruso, the other riders are Alessandro De Marchi, Alex Baudin and Giulio Pellizzari.

10KM TO GO

Calmejane is caught by the chasing seven riders, which allows Caruso to roll over an intermediate sprint to gain three bonus seconds. 

Ten seconds for the leading octet, as we enter the final 10km.

UAE Team Emirates have retaken control of the peloton, after things got a bit messy with some gaps opening up. Even Geraint Thomas threatened to go clear at one point.

Astana and Bora are helping UAE set the pace.

The leaders' advanatge is growing, though, and is up to 22 seconds. 

The upcoming climb is going to be crucial. Do the leaders have enough to survive it, or will there be race-winning attacks from the peloton?

Conci has attacked the lead group and has a gap of a few seconds.

Conci is looking good. This group might just be a little too big to work together well.

5KM TO GO

Conci is well clear of the rest of the break, who seem unlikely to bring him back. But can he hold off the peloton when the attacks start coming on the climb?

Conci has a healthy lead - 22 seconds on the Caruso group, and a whole 45 seconds on the peloton.

Pogačar has been brought to second-in-line in the peloton. Surely an attack is coming...

Pogačar is coming! He hasn;t attacked, but upped the pace so that only 2 riders are with him.

They've caught the rest of the break, aside from Conci.

Pogačar has Narvaez on his wheel, but that's it.

Just 10 seconds for Conci ahead of Pogačar and Narvaez.

Pogačar and Narvaez catch Conci.

Pogačar accelerates again! But Narvaez hangs on.

Narvaez hasn't done any work, understandably given his teammate is Geraint Thomas.

They've finised the climb, and Pogačar and Narvaez are out ahead.

Max Schachmann is about to join them on the descent.

Pogačar is being left to do all the work.

1KM TO GO

These three still out in  front, but can anyone catch them with Pogačar frustrated at doing all the work?

Paret-Paintre is nex down the road, then Conci.

Pogačar starts sprinting!

Narvaez wins!

It was close on the line, but Narvaez just edges out Pogačar, with Schachmann in third.

Thomas is already over the line and celebrating Narvaez - he can't have lost too much time to his Pogačar.

Not such a good day for another of Ineos' riders - Arensman is only just arriving at the line now, 2-17 behind his winning teammate Narvaez. His GC bid already could be over. 

Pogačar's attack on the climb was explosive, but his GC rivals who were still in the peloton by that climb don't seemed to have lost too much time. We'll confirm the exact damage soon. 

The real story of the day though is the sensational ride by Jhonatan Narváez. He's won a Giro stage before in 2020 - but he didn't have to defeat Pogačar to do so on that occasion. To not only have the legs to follow his acceleration on the climb, but also out-sprint him in the finale, was some performance.

It turns out Schachmann also got the better of  Pogačar in the photo finish, claiming second-place behind Jhonatan Narváez.

The rest of the favourites arrived 10 seconds behind the leading trio, so not too much time coneded to Pogačar.

Here's today's top ten in full:

1 Jhonatan Narváez 

2 Max Schachmann 

3 Tadej Pogačar both at same time

4 Alex Baudin at 6 secs

5 Nicola Conci at 10secs

6 Quinten Hermans

7 Mauri Vansevenant

8 Antonio Tiberi

9 Attila Valter

10 Geraint Thomas all at same time

What a great day for Ecuadorian cycling, too, with Narvaez wearing their national colours as national champion. The nation already has a real love affair with the Giro, following Carapaz's overall win here five years ago.

Aside from the riders dropped earlier (such as Arensman and Bardet), it seems most of the GC contenders finished in the group at 10 seconds: as well as Thomas, Caruso, Dunbar, O'Connor,  Martínez and Uijtdebroeks were all there.

More time was lost by Quintana, who finished 57 seconds behind, finishing in the same group as Bardet and Plapp, who were dropped earlier. 

Here’s what stage winner Narváez had to say at the finish.

“Following the best guy in the world on the climb was really hard, so it’s a special victory today. It’s still hurting me now. It was really hard, really, really hard but in the end, I made it.”

“I think he went too long in the sprint, 200 metres after a really hard stage and I did a short sprint and in the end I took the victory.”

“For me it’s amazing.There aren’t many opportunities in a Grand Tour to get the Maglia Rosa on the first day because you have a bunch sprint, a TT or a different stage. Today was a good opportunity. I worked really, really hard for it.”

Thanks for joining us today, for what was a corker of an opening to the Giro. It seems Pogačar is not going to have everything his own way in this race. We'll be back tomorrow for an early summit finish at the Oropa Sanctuary, which, if today's drama on comparatively easy climbs is anything to go by, will see serious fireworks among the GC contenders.