Tour of Italy - Kämna advances - Almeida wins first stage in the Alps

With a solid performance on the first difficult Alpine stage, Lennard Kämna has climbed further up the overall standings of the 106th Giro d'Italia.

The professional cyclist from Bremen finished eleventh at the mountain top finish on Monte Bondone, 1:20 minutes behind the day's winner Joao Almeida from Portugal. In the overall standings, Kämna is in sixth place and 3:20 minutes behind the new overall leader Geraint Thomas. The Briton crossed the finish line in second place at the same time as Almeida. The Slovenian Primoz Roglic finished third, 25 seconds behind.

Unexpected weakness from Roglic

On the 203-kilometre stage, the riders had to conquer around 5000 metres of climbing. However, the expected exchange of blows between the favourites only took place on the 21.6 kilometre long final climb. 8.5 kilometres before the finish, Almeida's UAE team stepped up the pace and only Roglic and Thomas were able to follow from the group of contenders for victory. A good four kilometres later, Roglic also had to let go, an unexpected weakness for the 33-year-old. Kämna reached the finish in the first larger group.

On Wednesday, the sprinters will once again get their chance. The 197-kilometre stage from Pergine Valsugana to Caorle is almost entirely downhill in the first half and has no obstacles. Pascal Ackermann from the Palatinate will attempt to take his second victory in this year's Giro.

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