The 196 km Scandiano–Viareggio stage of the 2023 Giro d’Italia will be remembered for three main reasons. First, because stage winner Magnus Cort Nielsen completed his set of victories across all three Grand Tours, having already won stages at the Vuelta a España and the Tour de France. Second, because Remco Evenepoel had withdrawn the day before – on the rest day – while wearing the Maglia Rosa. And third, because it gave Geraint Thomas his first day in pink.
On a day marked by rain, especially early on, Cort Nielsen completed a successful breakaway alongside fellow long-range specialist Alessandro De Marchi, and the big revelation of that Giro edition, Derek Gee. In a three-man sprint at the finish in Viareggio, the Danish rider’s top-end speed gave him the edge over the Canadian and the Italian.
Still, the main topic of the day was Evenepoel’s shock withdrawal in the Maglia Rosa. After winning the Cesena time trial and claiming the race lead, the young Belgian abandoned on the rest day after testing positive for COVID (many will remember his exhausted face after the TT). The decision sparked heavy debate, some felt it was absolutely right not to risk his health, while others argued that quitting in pink, especially with the COVID emergency largely behind, was a major sign of disrespect for the Giro, and that he should have at least tried to fight on.
As a result, Geraint Thomas found himself in the Maglia Rosa for the first time in his career – and interestingly, had lived in Viareggio for a time earlier in his career.
“A lot happened between yesterday and today,” the Welshman said. “From Remco’s exit to the big fight to get the breakaway going. And yet, despite the rain, I managed to enjoy this jersey. I’ve lived around here, so it means a lot to be racing through these places in the lead of the Giro. I hope the weather improves, but regardless – it’s truly an honor to wear this jersey. When I was a kid living in Tuscany, the idea of wearing the Maglia Rosa felt like a distant dream…”
Thomas would go on to wear that jersey – except for a couple of days when Bruno Armirail took over – until the penultimate stage, when Primož Roglič produced his masterpiece on Monte Lussari.
