I didn't post anything about this event previously becaused without Tadej Pogacar or Jonas Vingegaard, it didn't look like it would be a particularly exciting or memorable edition, but I have to post this in recognition of Mads Pedersen's incredible consistency.
He's a sprinter so he won't be going for GC (in case any noobs want to start shrieking) but he already has the Maglia Ciclameno wrapped up . . . except he's not wearing it right now because it's only secondary to the Maglia Rosa (Giro equivalent of TdF's Maillot Jaune) which he's still wearing!
I'm expecting Primoz Roglic and Juan Ayuso to fight it out for the Maglia Rosa . . . and Olav Kooij to win a few sprint stages.
Pedersen wasn't even in the leading group today (the first stage he hasn't contended) and Kooij was very unlucky on today's sprint, getting edged into the barriers and not being able to compete with eventual winner Kaden Groves. Watch Kooij in the next sprints.