As it happened: Lidl-Trek show their determination to win yet again on Giro d'Italia Stage 5

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

Today the Corsa Rosa heads from Ceglie Messapica to the stunning historic town of Matera.

The stage is relatively short at 151km but has some climbing, that could impact the finale.  

The stage should be more of a challenge for the sprinters and their teams than stage 4's flat run-in to Lecce 

Much of the stage is flat along the Gulf of Taranto, while the day's hills – classified or not – come in the final 30km of the 151km ride.

This is the map of stage 5. 

There are three intermediate sprints that should inspire some action, for the cyclamino points jersey and the bonus seconds. 

Sprint 1 - Massafra, km. 42.5

Sprint 2 - Marina di Ginosa, km. 76.8

The Red Bull Kilometre sprint - Bernalda, km. 100.4

This is the stage profile. 

The middle part is very flat along the coast but the final 30km are rolling on country roads.

There are several climb but only one is categorised, the rest are unknown factors in the sprinters' fight for survival and a shot at victory. 

To read our stage preview, click below. Mads Pedersen and the sprinters could survive or the racing could explode. 

The stage is finely balanced and should be spectacular to watch.  

2025 Giro d'Italia stage 5 preview - A fast, punchy finish awaits in Matera

Picnic-PostNL pulled off a major coup on stage 4 to Lecce, controlling the bunch sprint on the technical finishing circuit and then delivering Casper Van Uden to victory.

The 23-year-old Dutchman beat Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike), Maikel Zijlaard (Tudor) and race leader Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) at the end of the 189-kilometre stage. 

Click below to read our full stage report, see the results and race photographs. 

Giro d'Italia: Casper van Uden claims stage 4 sprint victory as Mads Pedersen is delayed behind late-race crash

The sun is out at the start in Puglia and James Moultrie and Alasdair Fotheringham are at the start, gathering the latest news for Cyclnignews.

The riders are currently signing on in the centre of Ceglie Messapica.  

The "chaotic" Lecce circuit on stage 4 saw Lidl-Trek's run of success and good luck come to an end, with several incidents "destroying" Mads Pedersen's lead-out train for the sprint. Fortunately Pedersen key the maglia rosa.

James Moultrie got the reaction from the Dane and Lidl-Trek. 

'Damage control' for pink jersey as chaotic Giro d'Italia finish 'destroyed' Mads Pedersen's Lidl-Trek lead-out train

Pedersen and Lidl-Trek moved on from any disappointment by announcing  some huge contract news.

'I'm staying with Lidl-Trek until my career is over' - Mads Pedersen commits long term to chase more Classics success

The riders have all signed on and are lined-up ready for the ride out from Ceglie Messapica.  

Mads Pedersen wears the race leader's pink jersey, teammate Mathias Vacek wers the best young rider's white jersey and Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS-Astana) wears the blue KOM jersey. 

Pedersen leads the points competition and so second-placed Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) wears the cyclamen-coloured jersey.
 

The mayor of Ceglie Messapica waves hi flag and the riders roll out of Ceglie Messapica. 

They face a 8.2km neutralised sector before the 151km stage starts. For now the riders are relaxed, taking haribo or sweets from the race director's car. 

We will surely see a breakaway but probably other cake or even gelato stops during the stage. 

We can see the classic sights of southern Italy s the riders roll out of Ceglie Messapica. 

The buildings are white, the streets are packed with people enjoying the show. 

Viva il Giro!

Via! 

They're off! The stage is underway. 

There 180 riders in the peloton, with Søren Kragh Andersen the only non-starter. 

There are immediate attacks as riders tryo to get in the early break.

150km to go

Two riders are away and two riders have a gap. 

On the straight road north out of Ceglie Messapica, the two riders have a gap. 

They are Giosuè Epis (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and ​​Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta). 

Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) chased after them and so now we have three riders in the attack. 

The peloton seems to have let them go and closed down the road. 

Indeed, Mads Pedersen is at the back of the peloton and other riders are taking natural breaks. 

The eaarly attack of the day has gone!

The gap to the break is already up to 2:10. 

140km to go

The trio push and have extended their gap up to 2:40.

Lidl-Trek is leading the peloton. 

As usual in this Giro, Jacopo Mosca is doing the early work for Lidl-Trek on the front.  

He will try to ensure that the break does not gain more than three minutes. 

Red Bull are lined out behind Mosca, keeping Roglic safe and staying safe as a team.  

The crowds are huge as the Giro rides through Martina Franca. 

The race now turns left towards the Gulf of Taranto and will soon ride along the coast.   

130km to go

There is a 20km/h cross-head wind along the coast, will it be enough to shake up the race?

Southern Italy is still lush and green due to a wet and warm spring. 

We'll bring some of the best photos from the race soon.

120km to go

Up front, the trio of Giosuè Epis (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), ​​Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta) and Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) are working well together.

They're riding their own three-rider team time trial and lead by 1:45. 

Its time for the first intermediate sprint in Massafra. 

Giosuè Epis (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and ​​Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta) go shoulder to shoulder and Epis wins it!

The prize money will help ease the pain of his effort in the break.

In the peloton Visma have taken control of the peloton, so Kooij will contenst the sprint with Pedersen for points.

But Pedersen jumps first, dives through a late corner fast to take fourth place in the sprint. 

He scores just a few points and enjoys surprising his rivals.  

After a fast but steady hour of racing, the riders have covered 45.100km. 

There is never really a quiet day at the Giro.  

The riders can now enjoy views across the sea,. They're in the instep of the Italian peninsular, in the far south of Italy.  

90km to go

The trio of Giosuè Epis (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), ​​Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta) and Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) lead by 2:10. 

There is a sea breeze blowing as we predicted and so the peloton is lined out. but there is not enough wind or desire for echelon racing.

The riders are on the main highway and so there are two lanes for the rides to fan out across the road.

80km to go

The gap remains 2:00. 

The chase will probably accelerate when the riders turn right and away from the coast. 

It's time for the second intermediate sprint. 

Giosuè Epis (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and ​Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta) fight for the sprint prizes and glory again. 

Epis takes it again, as Malesi watches the ProTeam riders fight it out. 

Pedersen again wins the sprint behind with a long surge. 

He is in the pink jersey but is also racing for the points jersey, his objective for the whole Giro.   

Jensen Plowright of Alpecin is fighting with Pedersen today in the intermediate sprints.

Olav Kooij tried to get involved but seemed to back off. He is perhaps saving his legs for the final sprint in Matera.

There are always huge crowds in the south of Italy when the Giro goes by.

Most towns and villages close down as the race goes by, especially start town like Ceglie Messapica.

These are the jerseys of the Giro. 

Mads Pedersen is enjoy the pink vibes of the Giro d'Italia.

The pace is steady in the peloton, very steady. 

Riders sitting on the wheels are probably pushing less than 200 watts as they rolling along in the slipstream. 

The riders are passing the archaeological park of Metaponto. Its temples were built by the Greeks 2,500 years ago and offer a breathtaking leap into the past of what was once considered the capital of Magna Graecia.

The riders have crossed into the Basilicata region of southern Italy. 

The road is still flat but will soon get lumpy. 

Jacopo Mosca is still riding on the front for Lidl-Trek and Pedersen. 

He has been pushing 320 watts all day.   

Crash! 

Alessandro Pinarello and Filippo Magli went down after a sudden breaking in the bunch. 

They both get up but the tension is rising in the peloton.

50km to go

The gap to the break is down to 1:00 as the break nears the Red Bull sprint. 

The breakaway trio have accelerated as they try to keep their 2:00 lead.

But as the road starts to rise, Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta) is not happy and jumps away alone. 

40km to go

It's surprising to see the break fall apart like that but Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta) is looking for some personal glory and television time.  

You may recognise the streets of Matera from a James Bond movie. 

Matera has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993 and peopel have lived there for 5000 year, initially in caves.

The ancient town is divided into two districts, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, with the rocky spur of the Civita in the center, home to noble palaces and the Cathedral.

The stage finishes near the city centre. 

Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) has caught Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta) as the peloton hesitates, to ensure their sprinters survive the climbs in the finale.  

The riders start the Montescaglioso climb with 30km to go. 

This could see the race explode!

Here we go! 

The peloton is lined across the road as they dance on the pedals.

Mads Pedersen is near the front with several teammates. 

The pace means some riders are being spat out of the back. 

We can see Ethan Hayter at the back. Milan Fretin of Cofidis has been distanced.

Olav Kooij is also dropped. 

Will he try to get back on or is he out of contention? 

Sam Bennett has also been distanced.

And there is still a kilometre to climb!

The final metres to the KOM are at 14%. 

This could hurt the GC riders.

Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) leads Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta) over the summit of the cat 4 climb. 

Kaden Groves of Alpecin is also struggling but fighting to stay in contact. 

The peloton is just 1:05 down on the break now. 

There is now a descent but then the road again rolls and climbs.

Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) and Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta) push on but the peloton is at 40 seconds.  

Kooij, Bennett an Fretin are timed more then 3:00 down on the Pedersen peloton.

20km to go

It will be fascinating to see which sprinters survive the rolling roads to Matera and what speed they have in their legs in the finish sprint.

Wout Van Aert is in the peloton. It could (finally) be his day. 

Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) and Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta) fight on as the peloton gropu rides strady on the exposed rolling roads. 

Their gap is still 42 seconds with 16km to go.

Pedersen has Vacek with him as a key leadout man and teammate. 

Ciccone is also there to play a vital role yet again.

Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta) and Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) are suffering. 

Their lead is down to just 20 seconds. 

There are about 100 riders in the chase peloton.

The non-categorised Castello Tramontano climb could decide what happens next. 

All the GC teams are also positioning their leaders for the climb.

We can see Q36.5 for Pidcock too.  

Gruppo compatto! 

Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta) and Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) are caught with 13km to race.

UAE have taken over on the front, that indicates how serious the GC teams are taking this stage finish. 

10km to go

Jay Vine is on the front for UAE, ahead of Del Toro and McNulty.

UAE want to hurt their rivals on the Castello Tramontano climb and keep them behind. 

Vacek is up front for Trek but Pedersen is further behind in the lined-out peloton.

This is a huge effort by Vine on the front and a show of force and intent by UAE. 

Then suddenly, Trek and Q36.5 take over on the front.  

Israel also moves up, as do Alpecin.

5km to go

Pedersen is on Vacek's wheel. They are set to form their successful lead out yet again.

Visma mass near thr front too. 

For Van Aert? Surely.

But no, Van Aert sits up! 

No sprint for him today!

Ineos are again keeping Bernal safe up front. 

2km to go

The final 2km now rise, fall and rise again, all the way to the line. 

Vacek leads but Pedersen is suffering. 

Visma are riding for Simon Yates. 

Roglic is up front. 

Will he fight for the win and time bonuses? 

Last km

Here we go! 

Reduced sprint but who is fastest? 

Pedersen moves up to the front!

Wow! Pedersen went early!

They came up to him but Pedersen got it!

That was a huge ride by Pedersen. Huge! 

By far his best sprint and biggest effort of this Giro. 

With a kilometre to go, Pedersen seemed too far back. 

He came back-up to the front before a late corner and then got a great lead out from Vacek.

Pedersen went early to anticipate his rivals and then had to suffer all the way to the line.  

Pidcock came up to him but Pedersn dug deep and stay ahead. 

Then Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain) came up along the barriers. He almost won with a bike throw but Pedersen was just ahead.

Mads Pedersen went deep to win in Matera.

Mads Pedersen is the first rider to win three times in the opening five stages since Marcel Kittel in 2014.

His win and time bonus also extended his lead in the maglia rosa to 17 seconds and his lead in the points jersey.

Mads Pedersen needed several minutes to recover and realise he had won again.

"It was an incredible 20 km and I suffered a lot on the last climb, so this was a really, really tough one, so I wasn't sure," Pedersen said of hid win and chances of victory.  

Pedersen fought for every possible chance of victory."

I knew that over the top of the climb, even when I was a bit behind, that I was in a small group fighting for the win. But I had a really hard time there," he explained. 

"I used a lot of energy to move back up to Vacek's wheel. I had to spend energy to come back to at least fight for the win. Then lucky I had enough for the last sprint. It was a tough one."  

Pedersen has now won thee stages and worn the maglia rosa for four days. 

"It's incredible to win and in this jersey too," he said. 

"It's insane and way more than I ever dreamt about. What a Giro we have and what a team I have around me?

Pedersen won the stage around Naples in 2023. This year's sixth stage on Thursday finishes in Naples, so perhaps another one for Lidl-Trek? 

"Every day we try to win as much as possible. We try again tomorrow," Pedersen promised.

To read our full stage report, see the full results and the best photographs from the stage, click below.  

Giro d'Italia: Mads Pedersen extends his lead with third win on stage 5 in Matera.

Thursday's stage 6 of the Giro is long at 226km and is hilly early on before the flat road Naples. 

The stage begins in Potenza in central, rural Basilicata and heads northwest in Campania towards the Vesuvio volcano. It includes two categorised climbs and others, making it ideal for a breakaway attempt. However Lidl-Trek and others sprint teams will surely try to chase to ensure there is another sprint finish.

There are no circuits in the centre of Naples but a fast and straight run in to the wide finish on the seafront Via Carracciolo.  

These are the stage 5 results powered by FirstCycling 

We'll have full live coverage of all the action from stage 6 on Thursday and our reports on the ground in Italy Alasdair Fotheringham and James Moultrie will soon file all the best reaction and analysis from Matera.