PREVIEW | Giro d'Italia 2024 stage 5 - Third sprint battle awaits us featuring Jonathan Milan, Tim Merlier, Kaden Groves and Olav Kooij
Cycling
The sprinters should have another showdown on stage 5 of the Giro d'Italia. We preview a day where the fast men will be headlining the race once again; but this time around without any climbs in the finale where attacks can pose a serious danger.
Stage 5 will be another day for the fast men. After start that was anything but friendly to the sprinters, the fifth day of racing also presents little obstacles to a bunch sprint in Lucca. With 2300 meters of climbing, it's by no means a pan-flat day, but the sprinters can be happy with what is a day designed for them.
Stage 5: Genova - Lucca, 176 kilometers
The first 62 kilometers feature some climbing that is not easy, it does provide an opportunity for a breakaway to go up the road with quality riders, whilst the uphill sections pressure the sprinter teams into taking it easy; which can see the gaps rise dangerously ahead of a very fast and mostly pan-flat final two thirds of the stage.
A small hilltop come with 22 kilometers to go, it's 3 kilometers at 4.3%... Not hard enough to drop sprinters this far from the finish, it should just be a regular ascent. A bunch sprint will follow in Lucca. It's not an overly technical finale but it isn't simple, moving through a ring road around the historic center of the city. It features a few roundabouts and fast corners, in a finale that will be flat and perfect for the specialists.
The Weather
Map Giro d'Italia 2024 stage 5
The wind won't really have any meaningful intensity throughout the day. Unlike today, the rain should not make it's presence felt as well; a relief for many riders.
The Favourites
Jonathan Milan - He's done it just as he should. As I said, Milan is incredibly powerful but positioning is his flaw. Today he did it right with Lidl-Trek and took the win. Now with the confidence back up and with a finale that suits him well, it will be another day for him to hunt for a quality victory.
Tim Merlier - I expect it to be very fast and chaotic however, unlike today in the final meters, and so I argue that Tim Merlier may stand better chances. A completely flat sprint with over a dozen contenders for the podium will prove a nightmare for some; but the Belgian usually does very well in this type of sprint and he could go on to beat Milan again.
Kaden Groves - Do not disregard Kaden Groves from taking a stage win. Second today, he was the closes to beating Milan and honestly it looked like he had the legs - maybe helped by the final ascent. Either ways, a sign of good form; and by the way he's been searching for points in the intermediate sprints it is clear that he will give everything to finish as high as possible in the final sprint.
Today we saw a few noticeable things among the best that can be analyzed. Firstly, Olav Kooij was brought perfectly to the finish line by Visma but he lacked the power of several of his rivals. Fourth at the finish, but it seems to indicate that he does not have the raw power to win against such strong sprinters in a day without many difficulties. Another is that Phil Bauhaus, once again under the radar, snuck into the podium and I argue he could've done even more if he wasn't stuck behind the barrier and the wall (Milan in this case being the wall).
Lacking the climbs late in the day we could see a few pure sprinters show up in a better light in the sprint. Fabio Jakobsen surely needs it, and I do think in this finale the team will try to back him up. The likes of Caleb Ewan, Alberto Dainese and Juan Sebastián Molano have been rather absent from the action so far, they will want to take this opportunity with both hands.
Then we've got some outsiders, some of which already finished on the Top10 of the sprints we've had so far; others will try to do so... Astana have two cards in Davide Ballerini and Max Kanter; whilst we've got other fast men to consider such as Danny van Poppel, Laurence Pithie, Fernando Gaviria, Stanislaw Aniolkowski, Madis Mihkels, Ethan Vernon, Giovanni Lonardi and Enrico Zanoncello.
Read also
Prediction Giro d'italia 2024 stage 5:
*** Jonathan Milan, Tim Merlier, Kaden Groves
** Phil Bauhaus, Olav Kooij
* Danny van Poppel, Madis Mihkels, Fernando Gaviria, Fabio Jakobsen, Tobias Lund Andresen, Caleb Ewan, Alberto Dainese, Juan Sebastián Molano
** Phil Bauhaus, Olav Kooij
* Danny van Poppel, Madis Mihkels, Fernando Gaviria, Fabio Jakobsen, Tobias Lund Andresen, Caleb Ewan, Alberto Dainese, Juan Sebastián Molano
Pick: Jonathan Milan
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling for
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- People see what they want to. I am actually the opposite of your accusation, probably more of a rebel than most of you who don’t get the big picture. The difference is, I don’t go moaning publicly about the consequences of my transgressions, I understand the need for rules and I take my OWN responsibility when deciding to ignore or break them or doing so involuntarily. I will also not hesitate to state my case or argue vehemently when relevant, sometimes it works, sometimes it makes things worse but that’s the price to pay for principles and having character.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- That may be but that was unknown to others and nothing says that’s the whole truth. Again, don’t try to misinterpret, it is a call and technically it is correct. Besides, even if there is a valid reason, that does not disqualify the ruling or punishment as far as the rules have been developed. I don’t think they’re as far as in football where for handball there is a distinction (in some ways and specific cases) between intentional or not. And football can be just as harsh and people live with it, eg the offside rule, also judged to within tiny fractions but often wrong or ignored. It’s the nature of every collective organisation and sometimes I wonder if our rebellion against it isn’t seated in the feelings we carry from the injustices we’ve felt personally, like being flashed driving 1km/h too fast when we are explained limits are just a security measure but we are absolutely certain not to have endangered anyone with our transgression. The problem is, nobody has better solutions and no 2 people have the same interpretation of where a limit should be.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- And we, what are we doing?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
Loading
Regione Piemonte will host the Grande Partenza of the Giro d'Italia 2024! Opening stage on 4 May with start in Venaria Reale. La Regione Piemonte ospiterà la Grande Partenza 2024! Si parte il 4 maggio da Venaria Reale. 👇Thread 👇 #Giroditalia #GrandePartenza @regionepiemonte
5 Comments