Lucca, Italy – In a stunning upset, Frenchman Benjamin Thomas powered to victory on stage five of the Giro d’Italia, outsprinting a breakaway group to claim the biggest win of his road cycling career. The 28-year-old Cofidis rider defied expectations on the 178km route from Genoa to Lucca, leaving the peloton in his wake and etching his name in the Giro’s history books.
While Tadej Pogacar, the two-time Tour de France champion, maintained his grip on the coveted pink jersey, the spotlight belonged to Thomas. He joined a four-man breakaway midway through the stage, collaborating effectively with Enzo Paleni (France), Andrea Pietrobon (Italy), and Michael Valgren (Denmark) to establish a significant advantage.
Their teamwork proved pivotal. The peloton, led by Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates squad, chased valiantly but ultimately fell short. As the breakaway approached the finish line in Lucca, the peloton’s pursuit became a distant memory. The stage win was to be decided amongst the escapees.
With one kilometer remaining, Pietrobon initiated a gutsy attack, attempting to steal the victory. However, his solo charge sputtered in the final meters, leaving the door open for a thrilling sprint finish. Thomas, perfectly positioned and brimming with confidence, seized his moment.
He unleashed a powerful kick, surging past a fading Pietrobon and holding off a determined Valgren at the line. The emotions were palpable as Thomas crossed the finish line, disbelief etched on his face.
“It was like a long, long, long team pursuit,” Thomas remarked with a chuckle after his maiden Grand Tour stage win, which also marked the first victory of the season for his Cofidis team. “We did an amazing break, and I don’t believe it. It was really hard in the finale, every pull was full of gas. It’s unbelievable.”
The victory catapulted Thomas into the limelight. Primarily known for his prowess on the track, where he is a four-time world champion, this Giro stage win marked a turning point in his road cycling career. The elation was evident in his post-race interview.
“This is huge for me,” he beamed. “For sure, this is the biggest win of my career. I always believed that I could win a stage in a Grand Tour, but to do it feels amazing.”
Thomas’ triumph injected excitement into the Giro. While Pogacar remains the overall leader, with a 46-second advantage over Geraint Thomas and 47 seconds over Daniel Martinez, the Frenchman’s win highlighted the Giro’s potential for surprises.
Stage six, a 180km route from Torre del Lago Puccini to Rapolano Terme, promises another day of racing intrigue. With a mix of flat terrain and categorized climbs in the latter half, the Giro continues to unfold, and more unexpected heroes may emerge from the peloton.
