As it happened: Giro d'Italia stage 3 decided by photo finish bunch sprint

The Giro d'Italia's third stage concluded with a dramatic bunch sprint in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, culminating in a razor-thin photo finish. Team DSM's Phil Bauhaus was ultimately awarded the victory, narrowly edging out Caleb Ewan of Lotto Dstny, with Mark Cavendish of Astana Qazaqstan taking third. This marks Bauhaus's first Grand Tour stage win and the second consecutive sprint finish of this year's Giro, setting an early tone for the fast men.

This result is particularly significant for Bauhaus, who has consistently shown flashes of brilliance but often found himself in the shadow of more established sprinters. For Ewan, it's another frustrating near-miss in a season where he's struggled to convert strong positions into wins, while Cavendish's podium spot demonstrates his enduring competitive spirit, even if the top step remains elusive. The early stages of a Grand Tour are crucial for sprinters to make their mark, and this photo finish underscores the fine margins at the elite level.

Another day, another sprint, another millimeter separating glory from 'almost'. The Giro, it seems, is determined to keep us on the edge of our seats, even for the most predictable of stage profiles.