Mads Pedersen Triumphs in Giro d'Italia Opener Amidst Dramatic Crashes

Dramatic Start to the Giro d'Italia

The Giro d'Italia kicked off with high drama as Mads Pedersen of Denmark clinched the first stage victory in Albania. Pedersen, riding for Lidl-Trek, outpaced Wout van Aert in a thrilling sprint finish. This win marks Pedersen's seventh Grand Tour stage victory, adding to his impressive resume that includes the 2019 Road World Championship.

Landa's Unfortunate Crash

However, the race was marred by a severe crash involving Mikel Landa of Spain. Landa, a strong contender for the overall pink jersey, collided with a lamppost with just 5km remaining. Scans revealed a stable fracture of the Th 11 vertebra, requiring him to remain in a stable lying position for an extended period. Landa will stay in hospital overnight for further assessment.

Team Effort Pays Off

Pedersen's victory was a testament to the strong teamwork displayed by Lidl-Trek. The team set a blistering pace on the final Surrel climb, which saw many pure sprinters dropped from the leading bunch. "It's absolutely amazing, especially after the team work like this, it's really incredible that the team works that hard and I can pay them back with a win," Pedersen said.

Van Aert's Struggle

Van Aert, who finished second, acknowledged the difficulty of the final climb. "You only get one or two chances to take pink, but on that last climb I struggled to stay in," he said. Van Aert is expected to be Pedersen's main rival for the ciclamino-coloured points jersey.

General Classification Shake-Up

The race also saw significant changes in the general classification. Derek Gee of Canada and Thymen Arensman of Ineos Grenadiers lost substantial time, while Tom Pidcock of Britain finished fifth in his debut for the Q36.5 team.

Upcoming Time Trial

The second stage will feature a 13.7km time trial around the streets of Tirana. Pedersen is expected to relinquish the pink jersey to a specialist in the discipline, setting the stage for another exciting day of racing.