Ecuador's Jhonatan Narvaez outsprints Giro d'Italia favourite Tadej Pogacar to win the opening stage of the Grand Tour.

(Reuters) -Jhonatan Narvaez of Ineos Grenadiers outsprinted Giro d'Italia favourite Tadej Pogacar to win Saturday's stage one 140-kilometre ride from Venaria Reale to Turin, with the Ecuadorian taking the leader's maglia rosa jersey.

Ecuador’s Jhonatan Narváez won a sprint finish to claim victory for Ineos Grenadiers on stage one of the Giro d’Italia

Jhonatan Narváez has marred Tadej Pogačar's Giro d'Italia debut as he pipped the Slovenian star to victory on the opening stage to take the leader's pink jersey that Pogačar is heavily favored to be wearing when the race ends in Rome in three weeks.

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Jhonatan Narváez managed to hold Tadej Pogačar on the descent and win the sprint for the first stage and the first pink jersey.

Rarely has the Giro d’Italia had such an overwhelming pre-race favorite. Tadej Pogačar is competing in his first Italian grand tour.

Jhonatan Narvaez outsprinted Giro d'Italia favourite Tadej Pogacar to win Saturday's stage one 140-kilometre ride from Venaria Reale to Turin, with the Ecuadorian taking the leader's maglia rosa jersey.

El ciclista ecuatoriano Jhonatan Narváez empañó el debut de Tadej Pogačar en el inicio del Giro de Italia al superar al esloveno en la primera etapa el sábado.

Ecuador’s Jhonatan Narvaez won a sprint finish to beat Tadej Pogacar and claim victory for Ineos Grenadiers on Stage One of the Giro d’Italia. Team Bora's Maximilian Schachmann was second with UAE Team Emirates rider Pogacar in third.