Van der Poel does not disappoint.
He was the first ringer at Giro d'Italia number 105. At the finish line in Visegrad, Hungary, the Dutchman, making his debut in the pink race, beats the Eritrean Biniam Girmay and Pello Bilbao in a sprint.
In the sprint error by Caleb Ewan who touched the wheel of Girmay and ended up on the ground doing everything by himself while the other big favorite, Richard Carapaz, closed in sixth position.
First of the Italians Diego Ulissi, who finished in eighth position ahead of Andrea Vendrame.
Further back the others, with Vincenzo Nibali 21 / o.
The ready-to-go from Budapest amidst cheering crowds (while in Italy the Communist Refoundation attacks for the choice of Orban's country and the arrival in the symbolic city of the Central-European group) and immediately the first escape: to take Mattia Bais and Filippo Tagliani,
(both of the Drone Hopper Androni).
Nobody had the courage to go on the attack with them, the advantage they accumulated quickly touched 10 minutes then the group increased its pace, especially by men from Alpecin Fenix and Intermarché Wanty Gobert.
First Tagliani, second Bais and third Nizzolo ahead of Demare and Van Lerberghe.
At the first flying finish line of Szekesfehervar at km 75.3 Tagliani precedes Bais while the sprint of the group is won by Nizzolo in front of Demare.
In the second flying finish line at 30 km from the finish, valid for bonuses, Bais (3 ") in front of Tagliani (2") while the group is ruled by the Belgian De Gendt (1 "). The two blue runners are caught after 181 km of escape.
the solo attempt by Lawrence Naesen (AG2R Citroën Team) arrives.
Later it was the turn of Lennard Kamna (Bora-hansgrohe), reached however in view of the red triangle of the last kilometer.
It was a short, very confusing sprint: 200 meters from the finish, an excellent shot by Biniam Girmay (Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux) followed closely by Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix).
Challenge to two for success, with the Dutchman to win.
"I knew that it would be of crucial importance to win the position in the final - the words of Van der Poel - and despite this it was very difficult to find the right space because on a couple of occasions I found myself closed. I understood that I could impose myself on the sprinters only in the final km.
incredible to wear the pink jersey after wearing the yellow jersey in the past.
There is a time trial tomorrow and I don't know if I will be able to defend it, for sure I will try. ”Tomorrow the second stage of this edition of the Corsa Rosa is scheduled, the time trial in Budapest, of 9.2 kilometers.