Pascal Ackermann won the longest stage of the 106th Giro d'Italia in a millimetre decision and thus celebrated his first victory of the year. "This is something very special. I'm finally back," said the beaming winner, who also ensured the first German stage victory at the Giro: "I'm super happy about my first success of the season. I've felt fantastic the last few days, but haven't been able to show it yet."
The former German road cycling champion won on Wednesday after 219 kilometers from Camaiore to Tortona in a photo finish ahead of Italian Jonathan Milan. Third place went to Britain's Mark Cavendish. For Ackermann, it was the first victory since August of last year. At that time, the 29-year-old had won the fourth stage of the Tour of Poland.
"It was very nervous. I took my cue from Mark Cavendish's rear wheel. It was so tight. I'm just happy that I was able to show that I'm still here. I'm now looking from day to day. From now on, I will fly," Ackermann announced. The 22-year-old Marius Mayrhofer also showed another strong sprint and finished seventh.
About 70 kilometers before the finish, the race was involuntarily over for the next favorite for overall victory. Leader Geraint Thomas crashed, causing his third-placed teammate Tao Geoghegan Hart to fall.
The 2020 Giro winner fell his left side and had to be taken away by ambulance. Thomas was able to continue the race. He is two seconds ahead of Slovenia's Primoz Roglic in the overall standings. The German hopeful Lennard Kämna, who for the first time started the tour with ambitions in the overall standings and is aiming for a top ten finish, is now sixth, 1:52 minutes behind Thomas.
About 66 kilometers before the finish, the Spaniard Oscar Rodriguez lost control of his bike in a downhill, touched a traffic sign and crashed into a house wall. The 28-year-old was conscious but was unable to continue the race.
On Sunday, Remco Evenepoel, who was the overall leader at the time, had already left the race due to a positive corona test. On Wednesday, his team, Soudal-QuickStep, reported four more cases. Jan Hirt, Josef Cerny, Louis Vervaeke and Mattia Cattaneo have tested positive for the coronavirus.
From Team AG2R, Andrea Vendrame had to retire with Covid-19, from Team Corratec, Stefano Gandin. A total of 15 riders have already left the Giro due to Covid diseases.