Kooij edges Milan in sprint to win Stage 9 of Giro, as Pogacar retains overall lead

Team-Visma's Dutch rider Olav Kooij won Stage 9 of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday, pipping Lidl-Trek's Jonathan Milan by half a wheel right at the finish line in a breathless sprint at the end of a 214-km ride from Avezzano to Naples.

Ineos Grenadiers' Jhonatan Narvaez looked set to win his second stage when he attacked early and sowed panic in the peloton on the final climb through the streets of Naples.

He was leading with some 150 metres to go before pink jersey holder Tadej Pogacar got involved in the lead-up to help his UAE Team Emirates colleague Juan Sebastian Molano and Narvaez was caught.

Milan was set up well by his Lidl-Trek teammate Simone Consonni but just as he was about to clinch his second stage victory, Kooij took the opportunity to steal the win from him, while Molano was third.

"This was the step I was looking for, at least the win. I was really looking forward to my first Grand Tour, and after already quite a few wins this is the one I was dreaming of. My first Grand Tour stage win but it's been a difficult and unlucky first week for our team and a hard stage today," Kooij said.

"We weren't sure to catch the breakaway riders but the team remained committed. The guys put me in an ideal position. It's been tight but I really wanted this first Grand Tour win and I hope there are many more to come.

"We knew we had to improvise a bit, especially in the last K. Normally with Christophe [Laporte] we had almost a certainty to get me in position. Today we had to not so much stick to one plan but see how the race went, how it evolved, and do what was necessary."