Mads Pedersen claimed a hat-trick of Giro d’Italia stage victories with a hard-fought win on a punchy uphill sprint finish to stage five.
Bahrain Victorious rider Edoardo Zambanini ran him close but had to settle for second as the maglia rosa simply had too much power, continuing his brilliant start to the Giro d’Italia with victory in Matera.
It was the Dane’s first win in the leader’s pink jersey and came at the end of a stage on which he extended his advantage, picking up 10 bonus seconds at intermediate sprints along the route. He now leads race favourite Primoz Roglic by 17 seconds, with his teammate Mathias Vacek 24 seconds down in third overall.
Tom Pidcock confirmed beforehand that he was targeting the day for a stage win and only narrowly missed out, putting in a strong sprint to finish third, but didn’t quite have the acceleration to come past the unstoppable Pedersen.
Follow all the action with The Independent’s liveblog here:
Giro d'Italia stage 5 LIVE
- Sprinters back in action - but have to contend with difficult uphill finish
- Map and route profile on 151km stage from Ceglie Messapica to Matera
- Tom Pidcock targets punchy uphill finish for first win at Giro
- In-form pink jersey beats rival Olav Kooij in early intermediate sprint
- Sprinters distanced as finale looms
- Mads Pedersen seals hat-trick of wins with Pidcock third
General classification after stage five
17:01 , Flo Clifford1) Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), in 15:11:52
2) Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +17”
3) Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) +24”
4) Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +31”
5) Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +32”
6) Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +35”
7) Max Poole (Team Picnic PostNL)+43”
8) Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) +44”
9) Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +46”
Another win for Pedersen tomorrow?
16:55 , Flo CliffordThe interviewer mentions tomorrow’s stage to Naples, another sprint possibility, and a place where Pedersen won in 2023.
He says, “Every day we try to win as much as possible and we try again tomorrow.”
'More than I ever dreamt about' - Mads Pedersen
16:49 , Flo CliffordLet’s hear from the maglia rosa and now three-time winner in this race so far.
Asked if he thought he could win come the finale, Pedersen says, “Not at all, this was incredibly hard the last 20ks and I suffered a lot on the last climbs. it was a really tough one and I wasn’t sure [I could win].
“I knew that over the top when I was a bit behind I was still in a group fighting for the win, but I had a really hard time there and used a lot of energy to move back up onto Vacek’s wheel. Luckily I had enough for the last sprint.
“It’s really incredible and to win in this jersey is insane, it’s way more than I ever dreamt about. What a Giro we have and what a team I have around me.”
Relegation for Zambanini?
16:40 , Flo CliffordReplays show Zambanini got in the way of a Picnic PostNL rider, knocking into him before threading his way to the front of the sprint.
The UCI might not like that...
Pidcock 'bit far back' to make a difference
16:33 , Flo CliffordA disappointed Tom Pidcock has a word with the interviewers at the finish.
“It came a bit fast [the last climb] and I was a bit far back, at that point I just wanted to follow. I was thinking about maybe trying something over the top, that’s where you can probably make a different, but on the climb it was too short, really, everyone’s going at the same pace.”
Regardless, third in a sprint with Mads Pedersen is hardly shabby.
Another win for Mads Pedersen
16:33 , Flo Clifford
Stage five results
16:30 , Flo Clifford1) Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), in 3:27:31
2) Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain - Victorious)
3) Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team)
5) Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizane)
6) Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling
7) Quentin Pacher (Groupama - FDJ)
8) Brandon Smith Rivera (INEOS Grenadiers)
9) Damiano Caruso (Bahrain - Victorious)
10) Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates - XRG)
Another top five for Aular, and the uphill gradient is evident from the fact that climbers/GC riders Storer and Caruso are in the top 10.
Mads Pedersen wins stage five
16:25 , Flo CliffordThree stages in five days for Mads Pedersen, who is looking pretty spectacular - especially given his slip down the bunch in the final uphill kilometres. Clearly had the legs and wanted to conserve his energy.
Mads Pedersen wins stage five!
16:24 , Flo CliffordIt’s a hat-trick for pink Pedersen!
A supreme display of power, and what a shift by Mathias Vacek, who controlled the last few kilometres superbly.
Zambanini came round on the left and had immense speed but just got going too late and couldn’t come around the Dane.
Third place for Tom Pidcock, a strong display by him too.
Photo finish!
16:22 , Flo CliffordThat was breathless! Pedersen came from a long way out, Pidcock looked incredibly impressive too but just didn’t have the legs to come round him - but there’s a Bahrain-Victorious rider, Edoardo Zambanini, making it a photo finish!
Sprint finish
16:21 , Flo CliffordVacek has perfect position and Pedersen’s on his wheel... Pidcock is there too...
Pidcock, Pedersen in front (500m to go)
16:20 , Flo CliffordPedersen is back! Sprint time!
Flamme rouge
16:20 , Flo CliffordVacek still looks imperious on the front. 1km to go, who has the legs for this?
Pedersen fighting (1.9km to go)
16:19 , Flo CliffordPedersen is going backwards! It’s his teammate Vacek setting the pace but he’s falling behind. All the GC favourites are assembled on the front.
Damiano Caruso attacks!
Red Bull move up (2.4km to go)
16:18 , Flo CliffordGiovanni Aleotti leads Red Bull onto the climb and Primoz Roglic hits the front as the gradient increases!
Could this be a GC day?
He swings off now, so maybe not.
Now UAE counter, closing the gap to Vacek, who resumes his position on the front.
Van Aert drops off (3km to go)
16:16 , Flo CliffordWell, van Aert swings off, so he’s clearly not feeling himself at the moment. He was ill in the lead-up to the Giro and despite that second place on stage one clearly doesn’t feel able to contest today.
Mads Pedersen is in third wheel, behind Visma’s Bart Lemmen and his teammate Vacek.
Finale approaching (5km to go)
16:15 , Flo CliffordUp to 60km/h now as the peloton take a sweeping bend on this descent.
Visma now pilot Wout van Aert up to the front and the Belgian takes a position in front rather than sheltering behind, so he might not be in the mix today.
Big guns move up (9km to go)
16:09 , Flo CliffordUAE have been on the front for a while but it’s hardly a punishing pace; Mads Pedersen is still only 10 or 15 wheels back.
Red Bull are up there too as we prepare for a downhill section with plenty of corners, twists and turns. Romain Bardet, Egan Bernal, Damiano Caruso and Nairo Quintana - what a throwback - are all well positioned too.
UAE still on the front (11km to go)
16:07 , Flo CliffordEF Education-EasyPost bring up former Giro winner Richard Carapaz, a man who loves a punchy finish like this.
The camera pans over Matera, a Unesco World Heritage site which has featured in James Bond (and I’m sure lots of other films). It’s stunningly beautiful.
Breakaway caught (13km to go)
16:04 , Flo CliffordIt was an admirable effort, but our last two breakaway stragglers are hoovered up with 13.3km to go.
Fist bump between Milesi and Bais and they accept defeat.
Q36.5 move up (15km to go)
16:00 , Flo CliffordQ36.5 are front and centre now as the peloton start climbing again. Tom Pidcock did say he was targeting today; will we see him mount a real challenge?
UAE and Lidl-Trek are also at the front, with Mathias Vacek protecting Mads Pedersen.
It’s strung out now as UAE apply some pressure.
Sprinters update (17km to go)
15:57 , Flo Clifford43 seconds now between the peloton and the breakaway. Kaden Groves and Corbin Strong are back in the main bunch having chased on, but whether they can stay there remains to be seen, with the road tilting uphill once more.
Casper van Uden and Ethan Hayter are 1:45 back, while Olav Kooij, Sam Bennett, Milan Fretin, and Matteo Moschetti are totally out of contention at 3:25 down.
Gap falling (23km to go)
15:48 , Flo CliffordThe escapees are now just 45 seconds clear and UAE are boming down this descent in pursuit. It’s not particularly long or technical but there are a couple of corners they’ll need to look out for.
UAE are strong on the front but we can’t actually see Juan Ayuso in that group... there’s a split behind and a few riders are having to chase back on.
Groves, Hayter dropped (27km to go)
15:43 , Flo CliffordThis a punishing slope - 8.4% for nearly 3km - considering it’s only a cat four. Milesi takes three points at the top, Bais takes two, and behind them UAE are making life difficult.
Ethan Hayter, Kaden Groves and yesterday’s winner Casper van Uden have all been dropped too.
Olav Kooij, sprinters dropped (28km to go)
15:41 , Flo CliffordJay Vine comes to the front for UAE - does Juan Ayuso fancy this one?!
The pace is pretty strong and some of the fast men are suffering. Milan Fretin, Cofidis’ sprinter, has been shelled out the back. More surprisingly, Olav Kooij, second yesterday, has been spat out too, as have Sam Bennett and Matteo Moschetti of Q36.5.
Climb approaching (31km to go)
15:34 , Flo CliffordNow then, for the serious business of today’s stage.
One kilometre to go until the day’s classified climb, the category four Montescaglioso.
Bais and Milesi are still out front, two minutes ahead of the bunch, but behind them the GC teams are massing to protect their leaders and the pace is ramping up.
Epis dropped (40km to go)
15:24 , Flo CliffordAfter almost 110km out front together the breakaway starts to split up, with Bais shooting off the front. Milesi takes a look over his shoulder and responds.
Epis, prize money bagged and points secured, doesn’t bother. He’s got everything he set out to achieve today. Good day at the office for the Italian.
Dicey moment (43km to go)
15:20 , Flo CliffordHairy moment for the peloton as a race official, trying to signal to the bunch where to go, looks to get in the way of some riders and a collision is narrowly avoided.
As it is a load of riders go the wrong way round a roundabout shortly after Bernalda, but no-one hits the deck, fortunately.
The gap is still around 1:42.
Epis wins Red Bull KM (50km to go)
15:12 , Flo CliffordOnto the climb of the Red Bull KM, and it’s a tricky prospect, 1.5km uphill beforehand and then onto the Red Bull kilometre itself.
It flattens out a little bit at the top and there’s a proper sprint among the breakaway to take the spoils. Once again it is Epis who takes the maximum points (and prize money) and six seconds, Bais crossing second for four seconds, and Milesi bringing up the rear for two.
The gap back to the peloton had shrunk dramatically to just a minute but is now back up to 1:25.
Crash! (52km to go)
15:08 , Flo CliffordFilippo Magli and Alessandro Pinarello, both VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane, have gone down in a crash - looks like there’s a touch of brakes in front of them and the pair run into each other, next to a large concrete barrier.
Both back up and looking no worse for wear, thankfully.
Red Bull KM incoming (57km to go)
15:00 , Flo CliffordJacopo Mosca is back on the front of the peloton, with a phalanx of Red Bull riders sheltering behind him.
The Lidl-Trek engine is keeping the gap to the escapees holding steady at around 1:30, so they won’t be bringing them back before the Red Bull KM at Bernalda, in around 7km.
'I just like it here': Pedersen on open-ended contract signing
14:50 , Flo CliffordTNT Sports chatted to Pedersen before the start of the race about his new contract news.
“I just like it here, so I don’t see why I should go anywhere else,” is Pedersen’s simple assessment of the situation.
“It’s a nice story [to stay with one team for the remainder of your career] and it shows what Trek can do, hopefully I will not be the only one doing this in the future.”
Epis wins intermediate sprint (74km to go)
14:42 , Flo CliffordOdd little sprint there, as Milesi feints starting a sprint first, but then knocks it off almost as soon as Epis makes his move, and the Arkea man leads out the drag to the line and holds on for another dozen points. Bais takes eight and Milesi five.
Behind them Visma are again in position for Kooij but Alpecin-Deceuninck get the jump on them, and it looks like Kooij gives up.
Plowright speeds up and looks to have the points in the bag but Pedersen rounds him with a powerful acceleration on the line! Another three points for him with Plowright taking the final one. The pink jersey is clearly feeling on top form.
Approaching intermediate sprint (76km to go)
14:35 , Flo CliffordLess than 3km to go until the second sprint of the day, with more points available at Marina di Ginosa, but no bonus seconds - those are only on offer at the Red Bull kilometre.
Again the breakaway - still around two minutes up the road - will mop up the significant points, but what will the serious maglia ciclamino contenders do?
Gap back out (87km to go)
14:20 , Flo CliffordThe gap has swung out again to 2:15 as the peloton pootles along after that sprint.
The day’s second intermediate sprint isn’t far away though, at Marina di Ginosa in 15km or so.
Tougher day for Lidl-Trek on stage four
14:06 , Flo CliffordWhile we’re discussing the pink jersey... Mads Pedersen’s Lidl-Trek squad have had a seriously impressive start to this Giro d’Italia, controlling proceedings immaculately on stage one to deliver him to the win and the overall lead.
But they had a tougher day yesterday as both Pedersen and climber/GC hope Giulio Ciccone were caught out in crashes and the latter had a mechanical had an inopportune time, before Soren Kragh Andersen - Pedersen’s designated final lead-out man - was in a nasty crash of his own.
He finished the stage 10 minutes down, visibly suffering and riding with only one hand on the handlebars having broken his wrist. He hasn’t started today, instead heading home to recover, and that’s a major blow both to him and Pedersen’s sprint chances.
Pink jersey on form (102km to go)
13:59 , Flo CliffordLittle fist bump between a very relaxed-looking Plowright and Pedersen as they freewheel after the sprint. Happy days.
Less positive for Visma, who went to all that effort just to effectively get caught napping. Rob Hatch, on TNT Sports comms, notes that that more or less sums up their last 18 months. Ouch.
Pedersen surprises Visma at intermediate sprint (107km to go)
13:53 , Flo CliffordGiosue Epis has a fine turn of speed and he takes the maximum 12 points at Massafra off Davide Bais, with Lorenzo Milesi not bothering to contest it. Bais and Milesi take eight and five points respectively.
Behind them, Visma-Lease a Bike line up their sprint train for Olav Kooij. Pedersen hops on the back and takes them by surprise, leaping around them to take a sweeping corner and soar into the distance.
He’s first over the line for three points and Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Jensen Plowright takes the sole remaining point. Visma get absolutely nothing.
Intermediate sprint approaching (112km to go)
13:46 , Flo CliffordLidl-Trek have brought the escapees’ advantage down to under two minutes.
We’re 3.5km away from the day’s first intermediate sprint; the breakaway will take maximum points, but there will still be a couple up for grabs.
Today's sprints
13:38 , Flo CliffordLots of action in the first 100km of today’s racing.
The first intermediate sprint is at Massafra, 42.5km in, with the second at Marina di Ginosa, 76.8km in.
The Red Bull Kilometre sprint is Bernalda, 100.4km into the race.
Breakaway kept on tight leash (126km to go)
13:32 , Flo CliffordJacopo Mosca is on the front for Lidl-Trek and the pink jersey’s team are setting a decent pace to keep the breakaway on a tight string.
Their advantage is hovering steadily around the 2:18 mark now and it feels a bit of a lost cause for our Italin trio.
UAE Team Emirates are also clustered up at the front; they’ve been pretty anonymous so far but could they be eyeing up today’s finish for Isaac del Toro?
Scenes at the start
13:26 , Flo CliffordIt’s another beautiful day in Italy and the crowds are out in force.
On TNT Sports, the commentators note that the usual 3km rule on sprint stages - where any rider involved in an incident in the final 3km is awarded the same time as the group they were in at the time - is not in operation today.
So this could be an even more nervy finish than normal as the GC teams get in on the action to protect their leaders.
Primoz Roglic, wildcard for stage five?
13:20 , Flo CliffordAn extremely relaxed Primoz Roglic had a laugh with the interviewer before the stage.
Asked about whether today’s punchy finish suits him too he’s characteristically circumspect: “We will see, when you have the legs there is opportunity.”
He’s then asked if he’s bothered about taking back the pink jersey, and whether all the attendant duties - press conferences, interviews, etc. - are putting him off. “Sweet worries, I like journalists, I like press conferences, so I will do it,” he jokes.
Yesterday he took two seconds back off Pedersen’s lead at the Red Bull KM and the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider says, “I have to do it because of the sponsor, no?! When you’re capable of taking some seconds it’s better to take, because then maybe you can lose 20 minutes.
“I’m enjoying everything,” he concludes about his time at the race so far.
Day's break gone (138km to go)
13:13 , Flo CliffordOur Italian trio have 2:40 on the bunch and that seems to be that.
As the camera pans to yesterday’s stage winner Casper van Uden, it feels a good time to note that stage four saw a first-ever Dutch podium sweep at the Giro, as Olav Kooij and Maikel Zijlaard rounded out the top three.
Sprinting dramas
13:07 , Flo CliffordIn the bunch, who are rolling along and look very relaxed, Mads Pedersen has a chat with Max Kanter, the XDS-Astana rider who was relegated and slapped with a yellow card for his sprint yesterday.
His team protested the punishment as unduly harsh. Sean Kelly, on TNT Sports comms, agrees.
Replays of the sprint show Kanter shoulder-barging into a Tudor rider, although it’s hard to tell if his momentum just carries him too far into him. Either way the Tudor rider is very unimpressed and gives him a shove back.
Three Italians in the break (147km to go)
13:00 , Flo CliffordThree Italians make up the break so far: Giosue Epis (Arkéa - B&B Hotels) and Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta), the latter a former Giro stage winner from a breakaway.
Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) has a think about joining them, drops back, before redoubling his efforts, possibly after having a quick chat with his team radio. He joins back on and that seems to be the break for now.
You’d think, given it’s a shorter stage and there’s a tricky finale that’s by no means a given for the sprinters, that there would have been a bit more of a fight to get up the road.
Flag drop!
12:54 , Flo CliffordAfter 8.2km of neutralised start, the race director waves his flag and the racing begins!
Movistar, Arkea-B&B and Polti-VisitMalta fancy getting in the day’s break.
Tom Pidcock targeting stage win
12:51 , Flo CliffordGood news for British viewers as a smiling Tom Pidcock has confirmed in his pre-race TV interview that he’s targeting today’s stage. The punchy uphill finish certainly suits him.
“For sure [motivated for the stage win]! It’s certainly an opportunity today, but we’ll have to see. [Lidl]-Trek are a team that have got a lot of momentum, I expect that they’ll want to try today, Mads obviously has got great shape.
“I think we’ll have to see how it plays out, also how many of the teams want to go for the breakaway.”
He also jokes that Mads Pedersen owes him a favour after Pidcock lent him some glasses when his didn’t arrive in time. “It’s not a big favour but I’ll pull that one if I need to!”
Mads Pedersen signs lifetime contract
12:44 , Flo CliffordLidl-Trek bounced back from a slightly disappointing stage four - Mads Pedersen described it as “damage control” after the race - by announcing that the 29-year-old will remain with the American squad for the rest of his career.
These lifetime contracts are becoming more fashionable, with Visma-Lease a Bike paving the way, keeping Wout van Aert and the great Marianne Vos with the team until the end of their careers.
“I always felt super-welcome and supported by everyone here. Every time my contract was up for renewal, it was easy to make the decision to stay,” Pedersen said after his own announcement.
Neutralised rollout
12:41 , Flo CliffordThe riders have signed on in Ceglie Messapica and are rolling out for the neutralised start.
What is the Red Bull KM?
12:37 , Flo CliffordIntermediate sprints have had a bit of a rebrand at the Giro this year, with the energy giant Red Bull sponsoring a brand new Red Bull KM.
As well as regular intermediate sprints, which offer points for the ciclamino points classification, there will be a daily Red Bull KM on every road stage (so excluding the time trials on stages two and 10).
The Red Bull KM is the kilometre up to an intermediate sprint point, which awards six, four, and two bonus seconds to the first three riders over the line.
Those bonuses could be crucial in the battle for the overall win and add a little bit of extra intrigue to regular road stages.
Giro d’Italia 2025 stage-by-stage guide: Route maps and profiles for all 21 days
12:30 , Flo CliffordWant to get ahead on the action after stage five? Lawrence Ostlere has put together a handy stage-by-stage guide to this year’s race:
Giro d’Italia 2025 stage-by-stage guide: Route maps and profiles for all 21 days
Who is leading the Giro d’Italia? Maglia rosa and general classification standings
12:20 , Flo CliffordMads Pedersen still leads the general classification after his win on stage three.
But that lead was cut to seven seconds as Primoz Roglic picked up two bonus seconds at the Red Bull kilometre on stage four, the first day on Italian soil.
Pedersen’s teammate Mathias Vacek rounds off the overall podium, 14 seconds back on the Dane, and also leads the best young rider classification.
Pedersen also leads the points classification, although the maglia ciclamino will be worn by the second-placed rider in the standings, Olav Kooij.
Lorenzo Fortunato remains in blue as leader of the king of the mountains classification.
Who is leading the Giro d’Italia? Maglia rosa and general classification standings
General classification after stage four
12:11 , Flo Clifford1) Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), in 11:44:31
2) Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +7”
3) Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) +14”
4) Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +21”
5) Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +22”
6) Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +25”
7) Max Poole (Team Picnic PostNL)+33”
8) Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) +34”
9) Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +36”
10) Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +40”
Stage four results
12:04 , Flo Clifford1) Casper van Uden (Picnic PostNL), in 4:02:21
2) Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike)
3) Maikel Zijlaard (Tudor Pro Cycling)
4) Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
5) Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
6) Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale)
7) Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep)
8) Ben Turner (Ineos Grenadiers)
9) Matteo Moschetti (Q36.5)
10) Enrico Zanoncello (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane), all at same time
*Max Kanter (XDS Astana) was originally fifth, but relegated to 103rd for irregular sprinting.
Stage four recap
11:57 , Flo CliffordDutch sprinter Casper van Uden claimed his first Grand Tour victory on his debut at a three-week race as he won stage four of the Giro d’Italia.
The first chance for the pure sprinters after a time trial and two punchy days in neighbouring Albania, this was always going to be a fast finale and it was the 23-year-old who came out on top in a chaotic finish in Lecce.
His Picnic PostNL squad came from nowhere inside the final kilometre as the peloton jostled for position, with van Uden launching a long-range sprint from 500m out and holding off the day’s favourite, Olav Kooij, and Maikel Zijlaard for the win.
Van Uden said afterwards, “I didn’t do it alone, we did it with the whole team, all the boys, all the staff back at HQ. They did super good. I didn’t have to take any wind until a bit more than 200 [metres] to go, and I know I have a good long sprint. I just went for it and hoped for the best.
“I know I just need to follow the boys. I’m really really happy to give them something back.”
Casper van Uden wins hectic sprint finish on Giro d’Italia stage four
GC battle today?
11:50 , Flo CliffordOver the last couple of days the GC contenders have largely tried to stay out of trouble, but with one intriguing exception: yesterday’s Red Bull kilometre, which offers bonus seconds, was contested by plenty of the big guns, with Isaac del Toro getting the better of race favourite Primoz Roglic.
And like on stage four the daily Red Bull kilometre - with six, four and two bonus seconds on offer for the first three riders over the line - is at the top of a short climb today, 100km into proceedings at Bernalda.
Expect a similar squabble between the main GC riders for those, if the day’s breakaway - if there is one - doesn’t get them first.
Key moments of today's stage: final kilometres
11:43 , Flo CliffordLike stage four’s twisting and turning city centre approach into Lecce, there’s another fairly technical finish which could lead to a hair-raising finale as both the GC riders and sprinters jostle to keep position and stay safe at high speeds.
There are two left-hand corners approaching the flamme rouge including a tricky one at the 1.2km to go mark before a wide 300m-long finishing straight.
There were crashes on stage four but fortunately none in the closing stages, with the peloton having already made one passage of the finish line and able to work out where the pinch points were. There’s no such circuit today.
Key moments of today's stage
11:37 , Flo CliffordLet’s have a look at where the battle for today’s stage will be decided. The steep climb at Montescaglioso, which begins around the 35km to go mark, will be crucial, and it seems like the Lidl-Trek squad of pink jersey Mads Pedersen will adopt their stage one tactic of making life difficult for the pure sprinters by setting a punishing pace on the climb.
From there, there’s more climbing on the menu, so even if the likes of Olav Kooij and Sam Bennett can get back into contention - if they are dropped in the first place - they could still struggle in the closing stages.
The final 3km include a punishing ramp that hits 10% and the final kilometre is a steady drag uphill too, so while the stage is likely to still come down to a bunch sprints of sorts, it may be pretty heavily reduced.
How to watch
11:31 , Flo CliffordViewers in the UK can watch the Giro d’Italia on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Coverage starts at 12.30pm BST, with the stage set to get underway at 12.55pm BST.
Map and route profile
11:26 , Flo CliffordHere’s a quick look at how today will shape up.
Giro d’Italia Stage 5 preview: Map, standings and route to Matera
11:20 , Flo CliffordThe 2025 Giro d’Italia’s sprinter-friendly first week continues with another outing for the fast men on stage five, this time a trim 151km run from Ceglie Messapica to Matera.
Unlike Tuesday’s pan-flat stage four, won by the surprise package of Casper van Uden, this one has a sting in the tail in the form of the short, steep category four Montescaglioso climb inside the final 30km.
It’s a leg-sapping ascent that may eliminate some of the pure sprinters and hand the advantage back to the likes of pink jersey Mads Pedersen, who won stages one and three and was fourth yesterday in Lecce, as well as Wout van Aert and Corbin Strong, who have both performed well on the punchier stages so far in this race.
Giro d’Italia Stage 5 preview: Map, standings and 151km route to Matera today
Good morning
11:16 , Flo CliffordHello and welcome to live coverage of stage five of the Giro d’Italia!
We’ll have all the build-up and action from today’s stage, with another hectic sprint finish on the cards - unless a breakaway can spring a surprise.
