Olav Kooij took his first Grand Tour victory in Naples in a thrilling finale, winning Stage 9 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia. Following several attacks along the magnificent bay, including a serious one by double world champion Julian Alaphilippe, stage 1 winner Jhonatan Narvaez rode the last 7km solo except for the last… 30 metres. The sprinters had the last word, thanks to a strong lead out by Maglia Rosa holder Tadej Pogacar who closed the gap to the Ecuadorian in order to favour his team-mate Juan Sebastian Molano who finished third while Jonathan Milan took the second place in Naples for the second year in a row (it was behind Mads Pedersen last year). Kooij played it well with the other sprinters’ teams as Visma-Lease a Bike has already lost Christophe Laporte in addition to Robert Gesink due to a crash.
Speaking in the press conference, the stage winner Olav Kooij said: “In the absence of Christophe Laporte who could have also won a stage in this Giro d’Italia, I had to improvise my moves in the sprint. Cian Uijtdebroeks came in help in the last few kilometres. I had no choice but let the initiative to Alpecin-Deceuninck and Lidl-Trek. I didn’t look where Narvaez was. I only saw him when we overtook him. Pogacar’s pull has been decisive for that. When he made his move, I presumed it was for Molano. I’ve won important races in the past two years but my first win in a Grand Tour is a big one. In the first two sprints of the Giro, I felt inferior to the other sprinters, I wasn’t at 100%”.
The Maglia Rosa Tadej Pogacar said: “Molano is a friend, he’s a team-mate, he’s a sprinter and he was there in the finale. It was a hard finale and he was super strong. Since he worked for me all the week, it was natural for me to work for him today. I knew I could give him a lead-out this time because the difficult parcours allowed that but I cannot when it’s super straight and super fast. He got a great third place that will give him some confidence for the next stages. If the weather tomorrow is super good like today, it should be a nice rest day. On the bike with the boys, we may stop for café and enjoy the nice views. It’s my first time in Naples, I’ll see it without going full gas”.
Stage 9 Brief Results
- Olav Kooij (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 214 km in 4h44’22”, av sp 45.153 km/h
- Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) s.t.
- Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.
General Classification After Stage 9
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)
- Daniel Felipe Martinez (Bora – Hansgrohe) at 2’40”
- Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) at 2’58”
Jerseys
The leader jerseys of the Giro d’Italia are produced and designed by CASTELLI.
- Maglia Rosa, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by Enel – Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)
- Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification, in collaboration with Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale and ITA Italian Trade Agency – Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
- Maglia Azzurra, leader of the Gran Premio della Montagna (KOM), sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) – worn by Daniel Felipe Martinez (Bora – Hansgrohe)
- Maglia Bianca, Best Young Rider, born after 01/01/1999, sponsored by Eataly – Cian Uijtdebroeks (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
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