Groupama-FDJ propel Arnaud Demare to thrilling victory on Stage 5 as Mark Cavendish dropped at Giro d'Italia

An enthralling fifth stage in Sicily saw favourites Mark Cavendish (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) and Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) distanced on an early climb before France’s Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) powered to victory in Messina. Demare, who fought back into contention after being dropped on the same ascent, held off Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) in a tight finish after the Colombian appeared to be hampered by a gearing issue on the home straight. Ad/> Italy’s Giacomo Nizzolo (Israel-Premier Tech) took third place ahead of compatriot Davide Ballerini, the only Quick-Step rider who had not dropped back to try and nurse Cavendish, the Stage 3 winner, back into the fold.

Giro d'ItaliaCavendish and Ewan dropped by ferocious peloton pace2 HOURS AGO Giro d'Italia Stage 5 as it happened — Cavendish and Ewan distanced early on Demare’s victory was the sixth of his career in the Giro and saw him move ahead Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert) at the top of the maglia ciclamino standings after the Eritrean youngster was forced to settle for fifth place in the sprint having been boxed in by the barriers. Spain’s Juan Pedro Lopez (Trek-Segafredo) finished safely in the main field to retain the maglia rosa before the race heads across the Strait of Messina and onto the Italian mainland ahead of Stage 6. /> “What can you do? You’ve got to try,” Cavendish said after a frustrating day in the saddle.

“In a different situation we would have probably come back. We were 30 seconds behind FDJ and Caleb [Ewan] was behind us. Ironically, if all of us were together, we’d probably have got back.

It’s just how it is. “The boys did everything and I’m so proud of them – but in the end, what can you do? We tried. You’re always disappointed