Démare emerges as Giro's sprinter to beat

Cavendish in great shape but comes up short against the Frenchman, writes Vern Pitt

- Vern Pitt

Arnaud Démare, resplendent in the ciclamino jersey, emerged as the sprinter to beat at the Giro d'Italia during the race's first week after taking two stage wins on the trot.

Following the race's return to Italy, the Frenchman first struck gold on the stage to Messina. On that day the mid-stage climb of the Portella Mandrazi had caused complications for the sprinters. Caleb Ewan, Mark Cavendish and Démare were all dropped from the peloton on the climb but Démare's group was further up the road than his two rivals and managed to regain contact with the peloton.

His lead-out was executed to perfection and he never looked in trouble as he romped to the line ahead of Fernando Gaviria (UAE-Emirates) and Giacomo Nizzolo (Israel-Premier Tech).