Caleb Ewan found the route of the longest stage in this Tirreno treacherous, but his Lotto-Soudal took the guidon under the whole day.
The Belgian team almost single-handedly neutralized a flight of 1 Colombian and 4 Italians.
The 2,000 meters in the second part of this stage seemed to break Mark Cavendish sour, but the Brit survived a dip and on paper got another chance.
Although not everyone wanted to be led to the slaughter: Marc Soler defended himself with an attack in the last 20 kilometers like a devil in a holy water font to avoid a sprint.
However, the danger of Tadej Pogacar’s accomplice, who with all his cunning had picked up a second in the intermediate sprint, was cleared with 3 kilometers from the finish.
The Belgian red shirts had already fired their best arrows for the sprint: Ewan was missing at the moment of truth.
Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl changed the gun from shoulder and launched substitute leader Davide Ballerini.
He had no story against Tim Merlier, who was supreme in the dangerous inner curve. Jonkie Olav Kooij had a great remonte in store, but came too late.
“This feels really good,” Tim Merlier said in the flash interview. “My form has been good for a while, but it didn’t really translate into results.”
“It was very hectic in the final. I had to survive the climbs and then I had to trust my teammates. That worked out well.”
