Replaced Evenepoel as leader at the Giro

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27-year-old Frenchman Aurélien Paret-Peintre won the first mountain stage over 175km from Venosa to Lago Lacena from a breakaway for Norwegian Andreas Leknessund, who took over the Maglia Rosa from Remco Evenepoel.

Evenepoel reached the finish more than two minutes behind the top duo in the group with Primoz Roglic. The Belgian did not fight with all his might against the breakaway and the loss of the leader’s jersey. Rather, he successfully focused on the fact that Roglic did not take time from him.

For his part, Leknessund rode in the larger breakaway for a long time before they broke up on the final climb to the top of the pass three kilometers from the finish and the leading duo decided victory between themselves.

The 23-year-old Norwegian is now leading the standings, 28 seconds ahead of Evenepoel. Third is Paret-Peintre, 30 seconds behind, who celebrated his biggest career success to date with the stage win. Roglic in fifth place is now 44 seconds behind Evenepoel, one second more than the day before due to an intermediate sprint.

Stefan Küng van Thurgau, fourth in the opening time trial, dropped out of the top 10. (SDA)

Source : Blick