The main question ahead of the opening day was whether Paul Magnier could pick up where he left off last year and start the race with a win. He duly delivered, helped by his Soudal Quick-Step team, who controlled the race from the start of the stage.
Six riders formed the breakaway: Antonio Polga (Novo Nordisk), Carl Kagevi (Lucky Sport), Jakub Říman (ATT), Nicolas Ginter (Tirol-KTM), Alessandro Milesi (Biesse-Carrera) and Erik Fetter (United Shipping). Fetter picked up the bulk of the points on the categorised climbs, earning himself the mountains jersey.
Milesi was first across the intermediate sprint line in Rokycany. He is the son of Marco Milesi, who once rode for Liquigas. However, his father’s time at the team predated the arrival of Slovak cycling legend Peter Sagan, so the two never rode together.
Once Lotto Intermarché and Cofidis joined the chase at the front of the peloton, the breakaway was swiftly reeled in before the race reached Košice. Carl Kagevi (Lucky Sport), who scored points at every intermediate sprint and categorised climb, was named the stage’s most combative rider.
Despite further attacks on the city circuit from puncheurs such as Martinsen (Drali-Repsol) and Nielsen (Lucky Sport), the sprint teams proved too strong and ensured a bunch finish.
Three-time Giro stage winner Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) was comfortably the fastest, leaving runner-up Jenthe Biermans (Cofidis) with no chance. The little-known Sander Granberg (Drali-Repsol) finished third, securing the best result of his career.
After the opening stage, 22-year-old Magnier leads the general, points and young rider classifications, having claimed his 32nd professional victory. Erik Fetter leads the mountains classification, while Samuel Novák (Tirol KTM) will wear the best Slovak rider’s jersey on Thursday after sprinting to 13th place.
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