Giro d'Italia 2024 Stage 11

May 15, 2024 A long transitional day across the heart of Campania and up the Adriatic coast for a likely sprint finish in Francavilla al Mare. Edoardo Affini and Tim van Dijke of Visma-Lease a Bike went up the road accompanied by Thomas Champion of Cofidis. The sprinter's teams took no chance on the day. Lidl-Trek's Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier was first to set the pace but Luke Plapp of Jayco AlUla, Pieter Serry of Soudal Quickstep and Jimmy Janssens of Alpecin-Deceuninck joined in to keep the break at one minute for the majority of the stage. The break waived the white flag and called it a day at 36KM to go. The final 20KM was rapid. Ineos kept things fast and safe, leading the peloton from 6.5KM to 2KM to go. Jayco AlUla took over with Lidl-Trek and Soudal Quickstep right behind. The final KM was chaotic, straight into a block headwind. Three riders emerged at the front in the sprint, Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek, Tim Merlier of Soudal Quickstep, and Juan Sebastián Molano of UAE. On the right side of the road, Milan had the speed and endurance to hold his position and take the win. Merlier came across the road to get in Milan's slipstream but could not get on terms with Milan. Milano was stuck behind Milan but held off the others take third place. The trio came in a bike length or more on the others. After the stage, the race jury deemed Merlier's sprint to be irregular and relegated him, moving Giovanni Lonardi of Polti-Kometa up to third place.