Kevin Vauquelin (Arkéa- B&B Hotels) attacked the break on the second ascent of San Luca to take a career-first grand tour win at the 2024 Tour de France, but it was a preview of future GC battles that really animated the day.
Tim Merlier took his third stage win in the 2024 Giro d’Italia, besting Jonathan Milan at the line. Tadej Pogacar led his team-mate Juan Sebastian Molano out with 2km to go but it wasn’t enough to upset the top sprinters.
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) bested five or six of the best sprinters in the world to won Stage 18 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia, the 178 km long Fiera di Primiero-Padova.
On a day that no cycling fan will ever forget, Julian Alaphilippe took one of his finest wins, completing his set of stage victories in all three Grand Tours and showing once again that class is permanent.
After a long time at the front with Mirco Maestri and then a solo breakaway with 12km to go, Julian Alaphilippe takes the win on Stage 12 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia.
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) has won Stage 11 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia, the 207km long Foiano di Val Fortore-Francavilla al Mare. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) finished second and third respectively.
Pelayo Sanchez (Movistar Team) has won Stage 6 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia, the 180km long Torre del Lago Puccini (Viareggio)-Rapolano Terme. Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) and Luke Plapp (Team Jayco AlUla) finished second and third respectively.
2024 is Julian Alaphilippe’s 11th season in the pro ranks and one which will mark a first for the charismatic Frenchman: his debut in the Giro d’Italia, the only Grand Tour he’s never ridden in the Soudal Quick-Step jersey.
The finale of the 2023 Vuelta a Espana was a hard fought sprint with Kaden Groves (Alpecin Deceuninck) besting GC contendor Remco Evenepoel at the line mere seconds ahead of the peloton. In a show of unity, race winner Sepp Kuss of the United States crossed the line arm in arm with his Jumbo Visma teammates Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard.
At Saturday dawned in Spain, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) looked on track to capture another stage win in the 2023 Vuelta a Espana, but at the end of the day, it was Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious) who ultimately had the legs after a gruelling day of racing in the Sierra de Guadarrama.