Pedersen wins opening stage of Giro d'Italia in Albania / Photo: © AFP
-
Two dead as Istanbul endures heaviest rainfall in 80 years
-
France charges teen shooter citing revenge for bullying in school
-
After latest Nepal flood, survivors fear for future
-
Martinez blames 'anger' for dig at Man Utd hierarchy
-
EU leaders clash over budget as spectre of French elections looms
-
Crowds build as Albanian PM tours protest aftermath
-
'No place to breathe': life in Indonesia's fire epicentre
-
China-North Korea bridge opens, 12 years late
-
'Can't sleep': Spain's housing crunch upends lives
-
Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia could be postponed but 'no hurry' to decide: AFC
-
Musk calls on Ukraine's Zelensky to 'go' after satellite slowdown row
-
Conrad wields axe after South Africa loss to Australia
-
Still smiling at 117, Albanian may be world's oldest woman
-
School roof collapse kills teacher, 27 children in NW Pakistan
-
Pope has 'good night' in hospital: Vatican
-
Haze turns Indonesia skies orange, shuts schools in East Timor
-
China's economy seen missing target as global shocks bite: AFP poll
-
California puts first US billionaire tax to the vote
-
Costa Rica opens jail inspired by El Salvador mega-prison
-
School headscarf ban meets resistance in Austria
-
Same-sex couple takes fight for equality to Slovakian court
-
World's top cocoa producer aims for a climate-tough bean
-
'High hopes' as Indonesian women get a football league, again
-
Why is Shell facing lawsuits over climate disasters in Brazil and the Philippines?
-
'Expectations high' for Bordeaux-Begles' Champions Cup hat-trick bid, says Depoortere
-
New four-lane bridge opens between China, North Korea
-
Rennie urges All Blacks to stay focused against 'hurting' Wallabies
-
Tech stocks lead rout after US inflation fuels rate hike bets
-
Palmeiras beat Fluminense 2-1 in Libertadores semi-final first leg
-
'No time to recover': UNDP chief sounds alarm on growing poverty after Iran war shock
-
Brewers blasts leave Dodgers on brink
-
Australia says won't let big tech have 'unfettered' access to kids
-
Tech stock lead rout after US inflation fuels rate hike bets
-
Mobile clinics battle Mongolia's childhood dental 'disaster'
-
Al-Fayed survivors say UK police missing 'bigger picture'
-
Wallabies back Meredith as playmaker for second New Zealand Test
-
Online 'witch hunt' sweeps up Asians misidentified as US rape accused
-
Messi's Inter Miami book playoffs with 2-0 win over New York City
-
Prospect of Bolsonaro win looms large over Brazil's Indigenous
-
Oil-rich Alberta tests Canada's unity with secession vote
-
Freed from Belarus, founder of Lady Gaga's biggest fan site tells his story
-
EU leaders head for showdown over bloc budget
-
Behind AI's carbon footprint, a potential climate tool
-
All Blacks make three changes for second Wallabies Test
-
Trump's new press secretary faces scrutiny over credentials
-
Mourinho blasts 'shameless' timing of Vinicius ban decision
-
PSG 'got lucky' to win Man City thriller, says Luis Enrique
-
PSG beat Man City in Champions League thriller, Barcola hits Liverpool hat-trick
-
Real Madrid comeback stuns Roma as Mourinho enjoys happy reunion
-
US Treasury chief urges stronger IMF role against 'distortionary policies'
Pedersen wins opening stage of Giro d'Italia in Albania
Denmark's Mads Pedersen of Lidl-Trek won the opening stage of the Giro d'Italia on Friday, a 160km dash over rugged hills ending with two loops of downtown Tirana, as Albania hosts the first three days of this edition.
Pedersen was beautifully led out before resisting a late surge from Belgian Visma rider Wout van Aert. Primoz Roglic, the overall favourite to win the 21-day race, finished on the same time in a small bunch just behind.
"I knew he (Van Aert) was behind me so you never know if you can win until the line," said Pedersen.
"The team set it up. We rode hard and then got ahead for the finale."
Pedersen then took to the podium to slip on the iconic race leader's pink jersey and spray the crowds with a magnum of sparkling wine.
"It's the first leader's jersey I have in a Grand Tour, so that's something nice," said Pedersen, the 2019 world champion.
This was a 51st career win for Pedersen and his second on the Giro after one in 2023. He has also won stages at the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana.
Spanish climber Mikel Landa was one of five victims of a nasty crash on a tight corner 5km from the finish line as the 184 riders began their epic three-week 3,400km slog to the Vatican in Rome.
Landa, who was third on the Giro in 2015 and 2022, hit a curb and flew into a drop of one metre to the pavement and rolled in agony before being taken away in an ambulance, making him the first casualty of the Giro.
An enthusiastic early break surged ahead of the main peloton aiming for the first King of the Mountains blue jersey, taken by Cofidis rider Sylvain Moniquet.
Saturday's stage 2 is a 13.7km individual time-trial on the streets of the Albanian capital, with van Aert again a major contender for the stage and the pink jersey.
The time-trial features a short 1.3km climb, with the peculiarity of a U-turn at the top.
Sunday's stage 3 will suit the sprinters who were dropped in the hills on Friday as it is a flat run around the coastal city of Valona.
The final week of the Giro will be decisive with stage 20, which ends with a gruelling climb up the Colle delle Finestre to the Sestriere ski resort, the moment when the winner is likely to emerge.
T.Zimmermann--VB
