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Taco van der Hoorn is happy about the stage win in Piedmont
Photo: JENNIFER LORENZINI / REUTERS
Sprint star Peter Sagan just missed the first stage win at the Giro d'Italia 2021.
His team Bora-hansgrohe drove him into position on the 190-kilometer stage from Biella to Canale, but the team was barely able to reach the runaway Taco van der Hoorn despite intense pursuit.
The 27-year-old Dutchman won and celebrated the greatest success of his career to date.
At the end he had four seconds before the approaching field.
Sagan finished third behind the Italian Davide Cimolai.
The professionals had to pass the first mountain tests of the Tour of Italy on their journey through Piedmont to Canale - the capital of peach cultivation in the region.
Van der Hoorn was part of a breakaway group that broke away from the peloton early on and did not break away from his remaining competitors until the last few kilometers.
The pink jersey of the overall first is still worn by the Italian world champion Filippo Ganna, who won the opening time trial in Turin on Saturday.
The German podium hopeful Emanuel Buchmann had lost almost a minute to Ganna and also a few seconds to the rivals in the overall standings in the fight against the clock.
A somewhat more demanding stage is on the program on Tuesday.
On the 183 kilometers from Piacenza to Sestola, more than 3000 meters of altitude have to be overcome.
Large time gaps for the drivers in the overall ranking are not yet to be expected.
aha / sid / dpa