Cycling-Kooij pips Milan in breathless sprint to the line to win Giro stage nine
Cycling - Giro d'Italia - Stage 9 - Avezzano to Naples - Italy - May 12, 2024 Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Olav Kooij celebrates winning stage 9 REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
(Reuters) - Olav Kooij won stage nine of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday, pipping Jonathan Milan by half a wheel right at the finish line in the sprint at the end of a 214-km ride from Avezzano to Naples.
Cycling - Giro d'Italia - Stage 9 - Avezzano to Naples - Italy - May 12, 2024 Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Olav Kooij celebrates on the podium after winning stage 9 REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
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 Maglia Rosa 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 team mate Simone Consonni but just as he was about to clinch his second stage victory, Team Visma-Lease a Bike's Kooij took the opportunity to steal the win from him, while Molano was third.
Cycling - Giro d'Italia - Stage 9 - Avezzano to Naples - Italy - May 12, 2024 Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Olav Kooij celebrates winning stage 9 REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Clare Fallon)
Cycling - Giro d'Italia - Stage 9 - Avezzano to Naples - Italy - May 12, 2024 Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Olav Kooij crosses the finish line to win stage 9 REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini