Groves edged out of stage win in classic Giro sprint

The Australian was beaten by a wheel by home rider Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), who had his parents at the finish to cheer him over the line.

Milan, who came second in the previous day's stage, conserved his energy in Tuesday's 190km ride not contesting the intermediate sprints.

Groves did to a degree, though given the power Milan showed at the close that was unlikely to be a significant factor in the 25-year-old missing out.

It was a tough stage, coming through heavy rain which prompted a bunch crash, and the retirement after a second solo crash, of Eritrea's Biniam Girmay, who finished third in stage three.

After an attempted late break by Filippo Gana was reeled in with less than a kilometre to go Milan launched the sprint.

It was tight and very fast, so much so Tim Merlier, Monday's winner, said after finishing fifth: "I'm just happy I am still alive. I'm disappointed of course, it was possible to win but a bit too dangerous. That's sport, part of my job."

As the line approached Groves, who won a stage on his Giro debut last year, pulled left from the middle of the pack into space and drove for the line but Milan had the power to hold him off.

Germany's Phil Bauhaus (BahrainVictorious) was third. Australia's Caleb Ewan did not have a chance to make an impact on the sprint having been boxed too far back.

Groves, who rides for Belgian team Alpecin-Deceuninck, said: "It was a really hectic sprint, such a high pace. All the teams racing for position makes it quite scary at times - it just increases the speed."

The Queenslander added: "We're getting there. The team is riding really well for me. We'll see how we go in the coming days."

Milan, who crossed the line in four hours, 16 minutes, three seconds, could barely express his joy.

"We came here with one goal, so many emotions today. Such an amazing sensation," he said

Race favourite Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) remains 46 seconds ahead of Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), with Colombia's Daniel Martinez (BORA-Hansgrohe) a further second back in third.

Australians Ben O'Connor and Michsel Storer are 11th and 12th, 1 min 26 secs and 1.33 behind respectively.

Meanwhile, two-time defending Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard is back on his bike, just a month after a horror crash that left him with several broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

The Danish rider is still hoping to compete at this year's Tour, which starts in seven weeks.

"I feel good, it's improving day by day," Vingegaard said in a video released by his team, Visma-Lease a Bike.

"I still have some things to recover from, but it's going better and better. Of course I hope to be there at the start of the Tour de France. I will do everything I can to get there in my top shape."

Vingegaard was hospitalised in Spain last month following the crash during the Tour of the Basque Country. He also sustained a broken collarbone and a pulmonary contusion.

with AP

Australian Associated Press