As it happened: Sprinters nearly miss out as Pogačar, Thomas go on the attack

Buongiorno and welcome to our live coverage of stage 3 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia!

After an exhilarating opening weekend of racing with the GC action exploding in Turin and up Oropa, today's third stage should be the first opportunity for the sprinters' teams to show themselves and fight it out in a big bunch finish.

The race stays in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy with a 166km route starting in Novara and heading south to Fossano. There isn't much in the way of climbing along the route with just a singular category 4 climb to content with, so those with fast men should look to control. 

Yesterday's dominant display from Tadej Pogačar on the first summit finish of the race saw him move into the pink jersey with a 45-second lead on Geraint Thomas heading into today's stage. If you missed out on the Slovenian's stunning solo victory, catch up with how he did it below.

Giro d'Italia: Tadej Pogačar crashes but then cracks rivals with solo attack to win stage 2 to Oropa

With the move into the maglia rosa, here's a look at Pogačar customised bike for the third day. Nothing crazy for now but the pink accents do make that Colnago look even sweeter. 

We're around 45 minutes away from the neutralised start in Novara.

We've unfortunately had the second abandon of the 2024 Giro d'Italia, with Eddie Dunbar leaving the race due to injuries he sustained yesterday.

Eddie Dunbar pulls out of the Giro d'Italia after crashing on stage 2

One man who will certainly be happy to be back in Novara is Tim Merlier. This is where the Belgian sprinter won his first Grand Tour stage in 2021 when he took victory in the second stage ahead of Giacomo Nizzolo. He's riding for a different team in 2024 with Soudal-QuickStep but he'll be hoping for similar success today.

Riders are completing sign-ons and the team presentation ahead of the third stage. Piemonte native Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) gets the biggest cheer of the day so far.

Aside from Merlier, there are a whole host of other sprinters at this year's Giro in one of the most stacked fields for a while:
- Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike)
- Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
- Caleb Ewan (Jayco AlUla)
- Fabio Jakobsen and Tobias Lund Andresen (DSM-Firmenich PostNL)
- Alberto Dainese (Tudor)
- Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
- Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious)
- Danny van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe)
- Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates)

However, looking closer at today's finish in Fossano reveals a much punchier final few kilometres than a simple flat run-in. The road up to Fossano takes the riders off a main road and onto a steeper duo of switchbacks. This steep pinch could prove a real problem for the purer sprinters mentioned earlier.

Here's a look at Jonathan Milan arriving at the start of today's stage. He'll fancy his chances even with the steep pinches near the finale. Milan won the first sprint opportunity at last year's race and held the maglia ciclamino right the way through to Rome.

Here's what Caleb Ewan had to say ahead of the stage:

"Now I've had a really good preparation for the Giro and I feel really good so hopefully I can go for some stages here," said Ewan in Novara to CyclingProNet.

In his pomp, Ewan would have been perfectly suited to a punchy run into a sprint so if he's anywhere near back to his best it could be a chance to score his sixth Giro stage win.

"I think a finish like this suits me, with some of the sprinters legs I guess being a bit tired at the top of the climb. I think it is going to be really tough but it should come down to a sprint."

Pogačar looks resplendent in the pink jersey, taking time to sign autographs ahead of signing on. It should be a day of staying safe in the peloton with the race leader not getting carried away despite taking a big lead yesterday.

'I was riding on the front wheel with zero pressure' - Pogačar brushes off crash but the Giro is far from over

Its a big day for Olav Kooij and Visma-Lease a Bike as the Dutchman eyes his first opportunity to take a Grand Tour stage win on debut. Visma set stage wins as their main objective for this year's Giro and sprinter Kooij will be the focus with a strong leadout train of Edoardo Affini, Tim van Dijke and Christophe Laporte.

Here he is then. Race leader Tadej Pogačar gears up for the start of stage 3 in the maglia rosa. 

Pogačar's shorts are looking rather ciclamino, however, and he's shared a friendly chat with the maglia ciclamino wearer Filippo Fiorelli on the start line. If he is to hold his lead, expect to see him fully in pink as the days go on.

Unofficial Start

Stage 3 of the Giro d'Italia is underway. The riders have set off from Novara to the cheers of big crowds. We'll have six kilometres to get through until we get to kilometre 0.

Bubbling underneath the pure sprinters is a whole host of fast men who are more than punchy enough to survive those late steep pinches in the road:
- Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ)
- Biniam Girmay (Intermarché Wanty)
- Matteo Trentin (Tudor)
- Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)
- Christophe Laporte (Visma-Lease a Bike)
- Timo Kielich (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

Davide Ballerini is enjoying a chilled start to the day and tucking into some haribos out of the lead race car. He'll either be on duty for his own ambitions or Max Kanter at the finish today. 

166KM TO GO

Stage 3 is officially underway at this year's Giro. Flag dropped by race director Stefano Allocchio and the jacket on his back shows just how the weather could play a part in today's stage. No attacks as of yet from the flag drop as there have been for the past two days.  

A look at the jersey wearers on stage 3 of the Giro d'Italia: Cian Uijtdebroeks in white, Pogačar in pink, Fiorelli in ciclamino and Dani Martínez who is looking after the blue KOM jersey for the Slovenian race leader. Andrea Piccolo (EF Education EasyPost) was also on the front row after his efforts in the break yesterday. 

Full status quo on the peloton for now with everyone happy for a calm start after two full gas days of racing in the hills and mountains. All eyes will be on the finale.

160KM TO GO

Very chilled out pace for everyone and no one fancying disrupting off the front. Lots of chats going on at the back of the peloton.

Here's that chat between Fiorelli and Pogačar with the Italian wondering whether the Slovenian had his colours mixed up when he put on his shorts this morning. The ciclamino bottom half has been causing quite a stir on social media. 

Big smile on the face of Cian Uijtdebroeks to the camera as the young Visma man started his first day in white at the Giro. He moved into the lead of the young rider's classification with a top ride yesterday up to Oropa.

Cian Uijtdebroeks hits ground running in Giro d’Italia debut with youth classification lead

Pogačar and Geraint Thomas are taking the chance to have a chat after the GC action exploded yesterday. It won't be a day for either of them today with a calm sprint stage on the menu. They'll be eyeing the final 3km and a safe run into Fossano

150KM TO GO

No change in the peloton for now.

Here's what one of the favourites for the day, Tim Merlier, had to say about today's potential sprint:

"It will be a hard final, it will make it really hectic. Some riders will be on the limit. It is a strange finish in the end but we will see what happens," he told CyclingProNet.

"The seasons started really well so I want another one today."

He'll have a strong side dedicated to helping him reach the finish today with Bert Van Lerberghe and Luke Lamperti as two of his last men in the train. Julian Alaphilippe could also be involved to ride the punchy climb near the finish on the front for Merlier.

140KM TO GO

Another 10 kilometres goes by without any change in the peloton. It is looking like there is no chance of a break today unless someone makes a move on one of the very few rises.

Thumbs up and a wave from Fabio Jakobsen to the camera. He said to media this morning that the stage will be his to go for as plan A but if he isn't feeling good then Tobias Lund Andresen will have the same freedom he had at the Tour of Turkey where he scored three stage wins. 

With the first chance of a sprint incoming, make sure you catch up with what 12-time Giro stage winner Robbie McEwen had to say to Cyclingnews about the sprint field.

'Giro d’Italia sprints are going to be incredible’- Robbie McEwen rates the sprint contenders

130KM TO GO

Intermarché Wanty and Alpecin-Deceuninck are the teams technically on the front of the peloton but without anything to chase there is no need to up the pace. 

A look at the peloton on today's third stage.

120KM TO GO

Intermarché are keeping their spot at the front of the peloton but these last few kilometres have just been a chance for the riders to get a feed in and take on some food ahead of the final 100 kilometres.

Signs of movement in the peloton. First attacks are starting from Intermarché with the one categorised climb of the day approaching. Lilian Calmejane is the most active. 

Davide Ballerini (Astana Qazaqstan) has gone with the Frenchman off the front. The one climb of the day will be to Lu (3.4km at 3.8%) which offers a maximum of three KOM points.

110KM TO GO

Calmejane must be thinking of the long term and after an incredibly easy start,  it isn't much exertion for three KOM points which could be useful later on in the race. He led the classification after stage 1 so could be targeting it throughout this year's Giro.

They had a chat before and Calmejane takes the maximum points with Ballerini close behind. The duo's lead does show quite a narrow road through Lu so they'll have to be careful as they funnel into the KOM point. 

There are splits in the peloton as Lidl-Trek hit the front with Jasper Stuyven just after the narrowing in the road following the KOM. Time for everyone to wake up with 104km to go.

Here's a look back and Calmejane and Ballerini cresting the only categorised climb of the day. A coupe spots of rain have been spotted on the cameras the racing calms down again. Time for a nature break for most. 

With Calmejane's job done for the day, Ballerini has been left out in front with a 1:06 gap but he isn't riding with any intention of staying away. 

100KM TO GO

Think this look from Davide Cimolai and Ruben Fernandez sums up today's stage. Plenty of time in the bunch for a chat, a laugh and even a smile for the cameras.

Ballerini has been caught after trying his absolute hardest to do so. Things have calmed down again in the peloton.

There was a big slowing of the pace at the back of the peloton as they exited a roundabout but no one seems to have hit the deck thankfully. 

We're closing in on the first intermediate sprint point of the day into Masio (Abbazia). It should be a good chance to see some of the fast men's form and who is saving themselves just for the finale.

90KM TO GO

A look at the peloton navigating some of the lovely narrow roads on stage 3 of this year's Giro.

Alpecin have started drilling it on the front so Groves is clearly fancying the intermediate sprint as he has been for the first two stages. Intermarché are also showing themselves for Girmay with Tudor the third team active in the peloton for Dainese's efforts. 

Milan is freelancing in his Lidl-Trek jersey so he is up for defending his ciclamino jersey that he won last season. Milan takes the IS first with Kooij in second and Merlier in third - perhaps a sign of things to come in today's finale.

Fiorelli attacks in the ciclamino jersey. Splits had been forming as the sprinters teams ramped up towards the intermediate sprint point and the Italian has taken his opportunity to try and break up the racing. 

The peloton is calming behind but there is a large group of sprinters and leadout riders off the front. Fiorelli isn't happy with the composition and goes off the front alone again. 

With around 25 riders peeling away in the front group, UAE have placed a rider at the front of the peloton to keep up the tempo. The leader's have a 1:23 advantage and are swapping turns with Alpecin, Intermarché, QuickStep, Visma, Tudor and Bardiani represented by multiple riders. 

80KM TO GO

Fiorelli's had a mechanical issue with his back wheel wobbling all over the place. He's happy to continue riding with it as the Shimano neutral service car is no use for his Campagnolo components.

This accidental sprinter's breakaway has kicked the stage into life with Polti Kometa, Bahrain Victorious and Movistar all putting a rider towards the front of the peloton to try and bring things back together. 

Here's one of the favourites for the day Olav Kooij. He has Visma teammate Christophe Laporte with him in the front group. The gap to the 24-man break is 1:22.

Movistar are fully committed to chasing this down as are Polti Kometa with the gap now coming down gradually. Fascinating developments in the peloton. 

70KM TO GO

Van Poppel, Ewan and Milan are all alone in the front group so likely won't want this group to make it to the end as they will be without their leadouts to help position them.

Jonathan Milan powers to take the Intergiro point into Montegrosso d'Asti which also has points on offer for the ciclamino jersey. He didn't have any issues without a leadout and easily moved ahead of Merlier and Groves behind him to take the maximum haul.

Fiorelli finally gets his bike change after the sprint point and a great swap at a good moment has seen him almost instantly make it to the back of the leading group. 

Movistar and Polti Kometa are keeping up their efforts and are seeing some change in the break's advantage. The gap is now back down under the minute mark on a small uphill section of racing. 

Here's a look back at the first attackers of the day Calmejane and Ballerini. They probably regret not keeping up their efforts as they could have got ahead of this sprinters break and been in it once it went after the intermediate sprint. 

60KM TO GO

The aggressive chase in the peloton has strung out the big group. Movistar and Polti are doing some serious damage to try and bring the leading group back in. Splits are forming as riders begin to struggle. 

Uijtdebroeks is down in one of the splits in the white jersey! Things should probably come back together but it is absolutely full gas for the moment. 

The chase is still on for Movistar and Polti with just 30 seconds separating them from the breakaway. Gaps are only getting bigger behind now with an infernal pace still being set.

Pogačar has been sitting calmly in the pink jersey towards the front of the peloton. As long as he stays safe he'll be happy especially with how much the action has kicked off. 

Movistar, Bahrain-Victorious and Polti Kometa do seem to be faltering in their chase efforts. The advantage to the group of sprinters out in front has stabilised to around 30 seconds with the second group containing Uijtdebroeks and Lutsenko now at one minute from the leaders.

50KM TO GO

Now the break itself is breaking up! Alpecin-Deceuninck are still trying to kick on with what is left of the peloton closing in.

Visma have a done a good job of damage limitation as the second chasing group nears the leading remnants of the peloton. Uijtdebroeks' GC hopes will live to fight another day. 

Regrouping

Finally everything is more or less back together with those out in front knocking off their efforts after an all out 40 kilometres of racing en route to Fossano.

40KM TO GO

We're back in colour order in the peloton with the teams now getting themselves ready and into position ahead of the final run to the finish. The pace should naturally start to increase as that front spot becomes more desirable.

Here's a look inside that sprinters' breakaway that has just been reeled in. Laporte and Trentin both showed good legs but will need to recover ahead of the finish before they work for Kooij and Dainese respectively at the finish. 

DSM-Firmenich PostNL and Ineos Grenadiers are bookending the peloton for now with both the sprint teams and GC teams interested in staying safe on what is sure to be a hectic run in. 

30KM TO GO

There are reports of rain falling at the finish in Fossano.

The peloton is closing in on the next intermediate sprint in Cherasco. If you recognise the name, it may be from Mark Cavendish taking a win here at the 2013 Giro d'Italia. This was his fourth of five wins from that Grand Tour en route to winning the points jersey which was still red at the time before being revived as the maglia ciclamino in 2017 for the 100th edition of the corsa rosa.

Here's another look at the top sprinters and fast men to look out for during today's finish:
- Olav Kooij and Christophe Laporte (Visma-Lease a Bike)
- Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
- Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep)
- Caleb Ewan (Jayco AlUla)
- Fabio Jakobsen and Tobias Lund Andresen (DSM-Firmenich PostNL)
- Alberto Dainese and Matteo Trentin (Tudor)
- Kaden Groves and Timo Kielich (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
- Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious)
- Danny van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe)
- Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates)
- Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ)
- Biniam Girmay (Intermarché Wanty)
- Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)

There are bonus seconds available on this uphill rise up to the Cherasco intermediate sprint so we may see some cheeky GC moves here.

Ben Swift takes three bonus seconds, Pogačar two and Thomas the remaining single point.

20KM TO GO

GC games likely done for the day and Pogačar extends his lead on the rest of the competition (except for ben Swift). 

Simon Carr has unfortunately abandoned the Giro d'Italia but there is no information as to why yet so look out for updates. 

The road has started to gradually go uphill in places as we close in on the finish. How will the legs be after that full gas 45 minutes of racing earlier in the day?

Spots of rain on the cameras, umbrellas in the crowds, the rain looks like it isn't going to stay away on stage 3.

15KM TO GO

The tension seems to be rising in anticipation of this hectic finale. Hopefully everyone can stay safe in the rain. 

The peloton is closing in on a small incline in the road which then plateaus before descending down with 9km to go. Teams will have to be in front when that descent starts if they want ideal placement before the run into Fossano. 

Leadout riders have started to struggle and drop out the back as the pace begins to ramp up. This is going to be quite the final 10 kilometres. 

10KM TO GO

Here's why the positioning is so important for today's finale. A look at a map of the final 5km shows the switchbacks in the road inside 4km to go. After navigating these, a crucial left hand turn with 1300 metres will test the riders positioning before the long, straight run to the line in Fossano. 

Ineos Grenadiers have moved up on the left hand side of the peloton to try and keep Geraint Thomas' GC hopes safe in the final. The GC riders are aiming for the safety point of 3km to go which is at the crest of that final climb.

We're up to 60kph in the peloton now on this downhill section that I spoke about. These next few kilometres are vital for both the stage win and anyone trying to arrive with their GC ambitions unscathed. 

This portion of descending is clearly on damp roads and it is starting to narrow. Pogačar and UAE aren't too organised for now and will need to do some work to ensure the Slovenian is in the ideal spot to stay safe. 

5KM TO GO

They are closing in on Fossano now and can see the uphill road in the distance. FDJ, Alpecin and Ineos are the best-positioned teams for now at the head of the racing. The leading group is thinning out massively after a surprisingly brutal day.

Ineos are doing the best job for now through Ben Swift with three riders leading the peloton. Pogačar is sat further down in the pink jersey and he isn't too well looked after with his team split throughout the peloton.

Thomas is doing a near full effort to stay safe with the GC riders all together on one side and the sprinters' teams on the other.

4KM TO GO

Onto the final climb we go!

Arensman and Thomas lead, Trek are now moving up Milan. No one is attacking and it is status quo for now for the sprinters. 

Its the GC riders at the front but once we pass 3km to go, the sprint battle is going to explode even further into life.

Attack

Attack by EF Education EasyPost and Pogačar follows! Thomas is forced to respond to the race leader.

The trio have got away and Alpecin are scrambling to try and close the gap so this can come down to a sprint. Its Honoré, Pogačar and Thomas in the lead.

2KM TO GO

Pogačar kicks on! Of course he does. Only Thomas can follow as Honoré fades into the group of sprinters. A sprint day has exploded into GC life.

Lidl-Trek are doing everything to bring it back as the duo go through the final corner. Its 1200 metres to go!

1KM TO GO

Thomas pulls through as Pogačar flicks the elbow. They aren't caught yet as behind the sprinters launch their final leadouts.

Will they be caught, final few hundred metres now!

Here come Lidl-Trek and Tudor. Pogačar sprints in pink but he is caught.

Milan comes through as does Merlier. Its a blanket finish but the Belgian looks like he has it in a breathtaking finale.

Stage Finish

The finish line camera shows it is Merlier just from Milan.

Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) wins stage 3 of the Giro d'Italia!

That was far from easy as Merlier looks absolutely exhausted past the line. It was Andresen who hit the front first, Dainese, Vernon and Milan were all there but in the end, Merlier had enough in the tank to just outlast the rest to the line in Fossano. 

Biniam Girmay (Intermarché Wanty) takes third behind Merlier and Milan with Jenthe Biermans (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) taking a nice fourth-place finish.

Here's what Geraint Thomas had to say after his exhilarating attack with Pogačar in the final 4km:

"It wasn't the plan, we just wanted to stay well out of trouble. The boys were incredible really, set me up great. We were hoping Pippo [Ganna] and Jonny [Narváes] would be with me but they lost the wheel a bit somewhere along the way," said the Welshman.

"Then Thymen set a great pace then I saw Honnore and Pog go and then I was like 'might as well just go' but jeepers man that was solid, he was kicking my head in.

"I just told him I was quite tired in a few less words. I was just trying to hold his wheel and tried to give him a turn... But it was solid, we were going."

Here is Tim Merlier's crowning moment from stage 3 of the Giro. It is his second win at the Giro and very well deserved on his return to Grand Tour racing after missing out in 2023.

Here's what Merlier had to say after his second Giro d'Italia stage win:

"It was the hardest victory so far. It was a really hard final, we caught them back but in the lat kilometre I never found the slipstream anymore so I was always in the wind and i saw 300 metres and was like 'you need to go'.

"I saw Milan was starting his sprint on the left side and I knew I was going to be first or second and I'm happy I won this one.

"Maybe we could have chose to pace on the last hill and I wanted to move with Bert [Van Lerberghe] but he waited a bit longer than I want. But in the end, it was a good situation: Mauri Vansevenant was there, Julian Alaphilippe was there, Luke Lamperti was there, Bert was there. They all did a great job."

Here's what Pogačar had to say after the finale, adamant that he did not in actual fact attack:

"I did not attack, I followed the wheel," he repeated twice. "It was a good situation, me Mikkel Honoré and Thomas, G. We tried to keep on going but I never believed we could make it to the finish. G tried to pull as well in the end which surprised me so respect. In the end, I tried but 400 metres to the finish is still a long way to go, way too long.

"I had good legs and this kind of terrain is good and when its a bit like a game like back in the day with your friends when you attack each other on the flat and small climbs, this suits me good."

Pogačar then perfectly broke down an intriguing day at the Giro d'Italia which was supposed to be a relatively straight forward sprint stage.

"Little bit complicated but not too much. We can break it down in three sections: first two hours were really easy and nothing happened, then one hour was just full gas from each corner, downhill, little climb was full full," he said. "It was a little bit of chaos then everything came back together and it was a little bit stressful, not too much craziness but you could feel the tension. Then in the final it was stretching the legs."

Make sure to read our full stage report from another thrilling day of racing at the Giro d'Italia:

Giro d'Italia: Tim Merlier claims first sprint stage as Pogačar's late attack fails

Giro d'Italia stage 3 full top ten from Novara to Fossano:

1 - Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep)

2 - Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)

3 - Biniam Girmay (intermarché Wanty)

4 - Jenthe Biermans (Arkéa-B&B Hotels)

5 - Tobias Lund Andresen (DSM-Firmenich PostNL)

6 - Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike)

7 - Ethan Vernon (Israel Premier Tech)

8 - Stanisław Aniołkowski (Cofidis)

9 - Fernando Gaviria (Movistar)

10 - Alberto Dainese (Tudor)

He may have been caught before the line but Pogačar of course maintains his lead in the overall GC. The Slovenian has a 46-second lead on Thomas heading into stage 4.

Tomorrow's stage from Acqui Terme to Andora - not to be confused with Andorra - is another possible chance for the fast men to stretch their legs. It features one long category three climb in the opening half of the stage before the much flatter run for home takes in one Milan-San Remo's famous climbs, the Capo Mele just before the finish. Can Merlier double up or will it be another sprinter's day? 

That wraps up our live coverage of stage 3 of the Giro d'Italia but look out for news from the race coming out from our team on the ground in Italy and come back tomorrow for more exhilarating action.