Dolomites stage

Pogacar extends Giro lead, Steinhauser wins

Tadej Pogacar on a descent in the Dolomites.(Bild: AP/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Tadej Pogacar has extended his overall lead in the Giro d'Italia. The Slovenian took second place on Wednesday after a challenging 159 km through the Dolomites, just under one and a half minutes behind the German Georg Steinhauser. 

The 22-year-old Giro debutant Steinhauser from the EF Education-EasyPost team celebrated his first victory as a professional after a solo ride. Pogacar now leads the overall standings ahead of the final four stages by 7:42 minutes from Colombian Daniel Martinez.

Steinhauser attracted attention at the Giro with a third place in the queen stage last Sunday - beaten only by high-flyer Pogacar and Nairo Quintana. Three days later, the rider from Allgäu went one better. The son of former professional cyclist Tobias Steinhauser triumphed solo on the Passo Brocon as the last remaining escapee from an original eight-man breakaway group at the last real mountain finish of this Tour of Italy.

Giro winner is probably certain
Pogacar degraded his rivals to extras once again with an attack on the final climb, but the five-time stage winner of this tour was unable to close the large gap to the German in front over the remaining 2.5 km. The Slovenian's third Grand Tour victory after his 2020 and 2021 triumphs at the Tour de France is probably out of reach.

After the two mountain stages at the start of the final week of the Giro, the terrain will be flatter again on Thursday. The 18th stage leads over 178 km from Fiera di Primiero to Padua. Apart from a small mountain classification in the early stages, there are no significant obstacles to overcome on the long and slightly undulating route out of the Dolomites.