Giro d’Italia: Pedersen wins but Landa crashes out on opening stage in Tirana

Mads Pedersen of Denmark secured a thrilling victory in the opening stage of the Giro d'Italia by edging out Wout van Aert in a sprint, becoming the first Dane to wear the overall leader's jersey this season. Despite his triumph, teammate Mikel Landa faced a devastating outcome after crashing near the finish line, adding injury to his quest for a strong race performance. Pedersen praised the teamwork that allowed him to deliver a late-stage win, while van Aert expressed frustration at settling for second despite a valiant effort. Meanwhile, other riders like Juan Ayuso crashed early but remained unharmed, while two potential challengers lost time on an otherwise grueling day.